Virginia Railway Express historic collections in Northern Virginia, Virginia
Rail preservation groupTrain ridesOperating commuter railroad; no public museum collection is posted
Virginia Railway Express is Virginia's only commuter railroad, carrying riders from the Northern Virginia suburbs into Washington Union Station over rail routes whose story runs from the 1850s through the Civil War to the creation of Amtrak.
- Virginia's only commuter rail system
- Manassas and Fredericksburg lines
- Runs to Washington Union Station
- Commuter fares in Virginia since 1860
Virginia Railway Express historic collections at a glance
- Hours
- Commuter schedule; trains run mainly in morning and evening peaks
- Admission
- Ride fares set by VRE; no museum admission
- Train rides
- Commuter trains on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines to Washington Union Station
- Best for
- Families who want a real commuter train ride into DC
- Best ages
- All ages
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Virginia Railway Express historic collections? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Northern Virginia.
Rally Takes the Train
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From an 1860 commuter fare to the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines
Commuting by train is older in Virginia than most people think. In 1860 the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac offered a special commuter fare between Ashland and Richmond. In Northern Virginia, the Orange and Alexandria and the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire began carrying country passengers into Alexandria in the 1850s, while trains from the south ended at a wharf on Aquia Creek until track to Fredericksburg was finished in 1872.
Crossing the Potomac took a war. Virginia lawmakers refused to let the Alexandria and Washington Railroad connect across the Long Bridge, but the Union Army laid track over it in 1861 and finished a stronger bridge in 1863. The current Long Bridge dates to 1904.
After World War II, passenger trains lost ground to cars. Amtrak took over the routes that became VRE's Fredericksburg Line in 1971 and its Manassas Line in 1979, but service was too thin for growing suburbs. Talk of commuter rail began at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission as early as 1964, and VRE eventually took shape as a joint project of that commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
How to see VRE history for yourself
VRE does not post a museum, exhibit hall or collection open to the public. The way to experience its history is to ride: trains run on the Manassas and Fredericksburg lines into Washington Union Station, stopping at historic stations such as the 1914 Manassas depot and Alexandria Union Station along the way.
Don’t miss
- The Long Bridge storyThe Union Army first laid rails across the Potomac on the Long Bridge in 1861; today's bridge dates to 1904.
A real commuter train ride
For kids, the experience is the ride itself: boarding a commuter train at a historic station and crossing the Potomac into Washington Union Station. Most VRE trains run toward DC in the morning and back in the evening, so check the schedule carefully before planning a family outing.
Plan your visit: tips for Virginia Railway Express historic collections
- Check VRE's schedule before you go; most trains run during morning and evening rush periods.
- Start at the historic Manassas depot or Alexandria Union Station to add some history to the ride.
- Plan your return trip before you leave, since midday trains back are limited.
Two commissions behind the trains
VRE is a joint project of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. No volunteer or membership program for a historic collection is posted, so the simplest way to support it is to ride.
Historic stations along the VRE lines and beyond
Alexandria Union Station, a 1905 station with exhibits, and the Manassas Railroad Depot, home to a railroad heritage gallery, are both served by VRE trains. Union Station in Washington is where VRE trains end their run. For more, see every train museum in Virginia.
- Alexandria Union Station historic exhibitsAlexandria, VA · about 4 mi
- Union Stationhistoric railway terminal, DC · about 7 mi
- National Capital Trolley MuseumColesville, MD · about 18 mi
- Manassas Railroad Depot MuseumManassas, VA · about 20 mi
- Gaithersburg Community MuseumGaithersburg, MD · about 21 mi
- Bowie Railroad MuseumBowie, MD · about 21 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A VRE ride over the Long Bridge puts the Potomac right outside the window, and I can picture a little nose pressed to the glass. That is how Rally rides in our book, with Mom and Dad beside him: watching the ocean through an arched window and greeting a white bird outside. My mom imagined that moment long before I painted it. Our train books for toddlers list has more window-seat stories.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Virginia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Virginia
- Halloween train rides in Virginia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Virginia Railway Express historic collections?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Virginia Railway Express history: 20 questions answered
Does Virginia Railway Express have a museum or historic collection?
No public VRE museum, exhibit hall or historic collection is posted. VRE is an operating commuter railroad. Families who want to experience its history can ride its trains and visit historic stations on its routes, such as the 1914 Manassas depot, which has a railroad heritage gallery, and Alexandria Union Station, which has interpretive exhibits.
What is Virginia Railway Express?
Virginia Railway Express, or VRE, is a commuter rail service that connects outlying cities of Northern Virginia with Washington Union Station in Washington, DC. It is the only commuter rail system in Virginia, and its reporting mark is VREX. Its two routes are the Manassas Line and the Fredericksburg Line.
Who runs Virginia Railway Express?
VRE is a joint project of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission. Its stated mission is safe, reliable, accessible and customer-responsive passenger rail as part of a balanced regional transportation system. Check VRE's own website for current service and fares.
When did people start talking about commuter rail in Northern Virginia?
Discussions began at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission as early as 1964, the year the Virginia General Assembly created that commission. Early efforts stalled because freight railroads, whose tracks offered direct access to job centers, opposed the idea. Those talks eventually led to the VRE service riders use today.
Was there commuter rail in Virginia before VRE?
Yes. In 1860 the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad offered a special commuter fare between Ashland and Richmond, and the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad gave commuters a discount between Chester and Richmond. In Northern Virginia, railroads carried country passengers into Alexandria starting in the 1850s.
What railroads ran before the VRE Manassas Line?
Before VRE, the Southern Railway provided passenger service on what is now the Manassas Line, and Amtrak replaced the Southern there in 1979. Earlier still, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad carried passengers into Alexandria in the 1850s. Today VRE commuter trains share the corridor with Amtrak.
What railroads ran before the VRE Fredericksburg Line?
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad carried passengers on this corridor, connecting with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Potomac Yard. Amtrak took over passenger service from the RF&P and Penn Central on what is now the Fredericksburg Line in 1971. The track from Alexandria to Fredericksburg was not built until 1872.
What is the history of the Long Bridge?
The Alexandria and Washington Railroad reached the southern end of the Long Bridge in 1857, but Virginia lawmakers barred a rail connection across the Potomac. After the Union Army occupied Northern Virginia in 1861, it laid track over the bridge and finished a stronger one in 1863. Today's Long Bridge was built in 1904.
Where do VRE trains go?
VRE trains run from Northern Virginia into Washington Union Station on two lines, the Manassas Line and the Fredericksburg Line. Along the way they serve stations including the historic Manassas depot and Alexandria Union Station. Check VRE's route map for the full list of stops and current schedules.
Can families ride VRE for fun?
Yes, anyone can buy a ticket and ride. For train-loving kids, a trip from a historic station like Manassas or Alexandria into Washington Union Station is a real adventure. Because VRE is built around commuters, plan around its schedule and know when your return train leaves before you head into the city.
When do VRE trains run?
VRE runs mainly in the morning and evening rush periods, with trains into DC roughly every 30 minutes for about three hours in the morning and back out in the evening. Only a couple of trains run in the middle of the day. Check the current schedule on VRE's website before planning a trip.
Why do VRE trains sit idle during the day?
Because VRE is built around commuting, most train sets make just two trips a day: one into Washington in the morning and one back in the evening. Scheduling allows one Manassas train to make a second morning run and one midday trip back toward Fredericksburg and Manassas, but otherwise the equipment waits.
Does Amtrak use the same tracks as VRE?
Yes. Amtrak runs additional passenger service on both the Fredericksburg and Manassas corridors, and both VRE and Amtrak stop at stations such as Manassas and Alexandria Union Station. Tickets and schedules are separate, so book through the right operator for the train you want.
Why was Aquia Creek important to Northern Virginia railroads?
Before 1872, the northern end of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad was a wharf at Aquia Creek. Passengers and freight changed to a steamboat there for the trip up the Potomac River to Washington. The track linking Alexandria and Fredericksburg, now owned by CSX, was only finished in 1872.
Which historic stations can I visit on the VRE lines?
The Manassas Railroad Depot, built in 1914, holds the city Visitor Center and the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery. Alexandria Union Station, built in 1905 and on the National Register of Historic Places, has interpretive exhibits in its waiting room. Both are served by VRE trains.
Is VRE good for a toddler's first train ride?
It can be, if you plan around the schedule. A commuter train offers real station platforms, a ride over the Potomac and an arrival at Washington Union Station. Choose a less crowded trip if you can, bring snacks and a stroller plan, and make sure you know which train brings you home.
Does VRE run Christmas or holiday trains?
No holiday or Santa trains are posted for VRE. It is a commuter service, so for a Christmas train ride look at heritage railroads and museums in Virginia and nearby Maryland, and check each one's dates and tickets well before the season starts.
How did Amtrak shape VRE's routes?
As highways spread after World War II, railroads were allowed to drop passenger trains until Amtrak formed. Amtrak took over the future Fredericksburg Line in 1971 and the Manassas Line in 1979, but it was built for long-distance travel, and its limited trains could not meet rising suburban commuter demand. VRE filled that gap.
Can I volunteer with or donate to a VRE history group?
No VRE historic collection or volunteer program is posted. If you want to help preserve Northern Virginia rail history, look at the groups behind nearby historic stations, such as Historic Manassas, Inc. at the Manassas depot or Historic Alexandria for Alexandria Union Station, both of which welcome volunteers and gifts.
What train museums are near the VRE lines?
Measured from the heart of the region, Alexandria Union Station is about 4 miles away, Union Station in Washington about 7 miles, and the National Capital Trolley Museum about 18 miles. The Manassas Railroad Depot is about 20 miles away, and the Bowie Railroad Museum in Maryland about 21 miles.
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