VRE primarily serves commuters going into DC in the morning and taking people back to VA in the evening. You were riding an off peak train but VRE hasn’t adjusted to the massive ridership drop from 2020.
I think the reason for the long consists (timestamp 3:25) is that the train will be used for a peak service later on, and it's not worth the hassle of re-forming the train for just one or two midday trips. The 1.15pm in particular looks as if it will become the 5.10pm or 5.30pm from DC, for which 7 or 8 cars will be much more necessary.
Excellent video! I think another weird commuter rail line in the DC area would be the MARC train west line.... Funded by Maryland, runs from DC to Martinsburg, West Virginia. Always enjoy your videos! The music and history are both epic!
In the future, MARC trains could go to Alexandria, VA. However, for that to happen a new Crystal City and L'enfant Plaza station needs to be built with dual platforms. We also need more tracks
There are many stops in Maryland befors that train reaches West Virginia. And a lot of traffic from Martinsburg that would otherwise need to vlog Marylsnd roads.
hmmm, that's hard! i think my favorite train line is either SLE, the Gladstone Branch, or the Wherry Lines in the UK (or the Zephyr, if that counts!) as for favorite train type, I have no idea, I pretty much like all trains equally (unless they have a really big flaw)
4:18 You are not on the Virginia side until pass the shore of the river. The Patomac River was originally all in Maryland, with the Virginia border being the shore. Now the river is either in DC or MD, but never VA.
Colonial Beach, near Fredericksburg, VA used to have piers that extended out into the Potomac River. The Maryland county that the piers led to allowed nickel slot machines in "casinos" only accessible through VA. We are talking seventy years ago. MD and VA both have real casinos, now.
The train rail lines south of DC's Union Station carry both freight and passenger trains. There is a plan to electrify the passenger lines once they are separated from the freight lines. This project will allow Maryland's commuter trains to enter Virginia and serve Alexandria's Crystal City station. This station serves Amazon's HQ2 and the Pentagon, providing Maryland residents with a more direct commute to these employers. The current projected completion is about five years. The separate freight lines will extend beyond Alexandria. There is a proposal to add a third set of tracks to Richmond and electrify the line. However, this remains a proposal due to unresolved issues like Ashland's slow zone. Virginia has purchased a rail line that shortens the distance from Richmond to Raleigh. This is part of a long-range plan for Acela to travel from Atlanta to Boston.
Here’s a couple of historical facts you missed…. The “Bunnyman Bridge” or the Colchester Road Bridge was the site of a train platform that was abandoned. It’s long gone, but some the arches built to support the platform were rumored to be the home of an escaped mental patient they called the Bunnyman. Manassas Junction was formerly known as Tudor Hall. It got the name Manassas Junction from when the Orange and Alexandria RR built a line going Northwest toward Front Royal called the “Manassas Railroad”. It was either named for a local landmark (I think a mountain) or a kindly Jewish trader who lived near the route who was named Manassas or something similar. The junction turned this sleepy little village into a critical transportation hub, and put the crosshairs of war on it.
Back in the 90s, I used to drive 20 minutes every morning to the last station on the Manassas line, catch one of the 4 trains in (half-hours between about 6am-8am) for an hour ride, and then walk 15 min to the office in Crystal City. Same thing in reverse at night (trains left DC around 4-6pm). The trains were shorter then and I never remember seeing those tall cars.
6:42 the Colchester Overpass is the basis for the "Bunny Man" urban legend. that said, don't go there on Halloween because you likely will get turned away 10:10 "southbound" on the Cardinal to Chicago, which is north of NYC (smh)
I think it's pretty cool that this railway has a station with a grade crossing going through it. I'm pretty sure the Hawthorne station on NJ Transit is also like that.
Not to my taste. Find it pretty dull to be honest. Even some disharmonic ones like here in Germany the Berlin U-Bahn are better for me. Coolest one over here, also quite disharmonic as well is probably Berlin S-Bahn. Outside Berlin they all are mostly just one tone beepers.
Manassas station is the backdrop for the cover of the album Manassas by Stephen Stills and the band Manassas. It’s a great classic rock/Americana album. Stills also recorded another album called Thoroughfare Gap. The title track is a beautiful song where he compares his life to a train climbing that gap in the Blue Ridge just west of Manassas Junction.
Take me back to Olde Virginy! Really neat sights there! I have a friend from Manassas! Pretty town! Looking forward to the second part of this! You should tour where the Amtrak Auto Train starts. It's in that area!
yeah, i wanted to ride the fredericksburg line but unfortunately i didn't have time to do that *and* all the other stuff i wanted to do, so i shelved it! I may well ride it next time I'm in DC tho!
0:32 Worth noting here that this image was taken after the bridge at that location had been burned down during a cavalry raid during the war. Union engineers had to rebuild the span in order to enable for the line to continue to be used.
@@MatthewChenault The given descriptions and the video (obviously) are real, but the "guesses" the vloggers make on a variety of topics are way off base.
Virginia has really been improving its rail transit and it's going to get even better with new initiatives they're kicking off. VRE and Amtrak are going to continue to improve and get faster and hopefully electrified and connected to the NEC someday. Richmond to DC electrification would be bad ass
@@honajtransit It used to be worse, as in, trains would go out in the morning, park in the yard in DC, then come back in the evening. Now at least they have some doing a round trip. Like that 1:15 you took. It goes to Broad Run, then heads back to DC, then goes back to Broad Run. Apparently getting agreements with the NS is the issue. That also is why they don't have weekend trains (but are working on it)
@RMTStudios It may be, but it also has ZERO weekend service, and extremely limited reverse- and off-peak service...so, imo im justified in calling it bad...
@@honajtransit it’s a commuter train, so of course it’s designed for commuters. You seem to not understand the limitations that VRE has due to the fact That CSX and Norfolk Southern owns all of the track and the Long Bridge is a massive choke point for the entire North East Corridor. Now, VRE is adding weekend service and more trains soon, and they’re going to be building a new Long Bridge just for the passenger traffic from Amtrak, VRE and possibly MARC going down to Alexandria. Virginia had recently added Amtrak service from Norfolk and Roanoke, which is more of a traditional, non commuter train service. As commuter rail systems go, I feel VRE does a great job within their limitations.
yeah, i wanted to ride the fredericksburg line but unfortunately i didn't have time to do that and all the other stuff i wanted to do, so i shelved it! I may well ride it next time I'm in DC tho!
@@honajtransit The best ride is to catch the train at Richmond and take the Northeast Regional to Union Station. The stop at Ashland is really neat. The platform is a median of the main road for the town. You also get a gorgeous view of Mary Baldwin College’s historic campus. The train also will take you trough one station located in a nature preserve, and one that stops on the Marine Base at Quantico! It’s a really neat ride.
VRE primarily serves commuters going into DC in the morning and taking people back to VA in the evening. You were riding an off peak train but VRE hasn’t adjusted to the massive ridership drop from 2020.
VRE ridership has not completely recovered from the 2020 pandemic. However, they've had a little increase in ridership over the past year
I think the reason for the long consists (timestamp 3:25) is that the train will be used for a peak service later on, and it's not worth the hassle of re-forming the train for just one or two midday trips. The 1.15pm in particular looks as if it will become the 5.10pm or 5.30pm from DC, for which 7 or 8 cars will be much more necessary.
Excellent video! I think another weird commuter rail line in the DC area would be the MARC train west line.... Funded by Maryland, runs from DC to Martinsburg, West Virginia. Always enjoy your videos! The music and history are both epic!
That's called the Brunswick Line, fyi.
In the future, MARC trains could go to Alexandria, VA. However, for that to happen a new Crystal City and L'enfant Plaza station needs to be built with dual platforms. We also need more tracks
There are many stops in Maryland befors that train reaches West Virginia. And a lot of traffic from Martinsburg that would otherwise need to vlog Marylsnd roads.
Your rail videos are the best and great.
I grew up in Manassas and before today I had never questioned that the train stops in the middle of the street.
8:20 - that's some classic foaming right there!
I love your videos! Commuter rail trains are awesome 🎉
What’s your favorite train?
hmmm, that's hard!
i think my favorite train line is either SLE, the Gladstone Branch, or the Wherry Lines in the UK (or the Zephyr, if that counts!)
as for favorite train type, I have no idea, I pretty much like all trains equally (unless they have a really big flaw)
Cool!
VRE has a mobile phone app that you can use for virtual tickets and it has a new train status map that shows VRE and Amtrak trains
It's good to see that teen stoners are doing productive and interesting things now instead of just playing video games and eating Utz cheese popcorn.
lol the fact that anyone thinks i am a stoner is funny, this comment gave me a good laugh
@@honajtransit Glad it did :)
4:18 You are not on the Virginia side until pass the shore of the river. The Patomac River was originally all in Maryland, with the Virginia border being the shore. Now the river is either in DC or MD, but never VA.
Colonial Beach, near Fredericksburg, VA used to have piers that extended out into the Potomac River. The Maryland county that the piers led to allowed nickel slot machines in "casinos" only accessible through VA. We are talking seventy years ago. MD and VA both have real casinos, now.
The train rail lines south of DC's Union Station carry both freight and passenger trains. There is a plan to electrify the passenger lines once they are separated from the freight lines. This project will allow Maryland's commuter trains to enter Virginia and serve Alexandria's Crystal City station. This station serves Amazon's HQ2 and the Pentagon, providing Maryland residents with a more direct commute to these employers. The current projected completion is about five years.
The separate freight lines will extend beyond Alexandria. There is a proposal to add a third set of tracks to Richmond and electrify the line. However, this remains a proposal due to unresolved issues like Ashland's slow zone. Virginia has purchased a rail line that shortens the distance from Richmond to Raleigh. This is part of a long-range plan for Acela to travel from Atlanta to Boston.
wow, Acela from Atlanta to Boston would be amazing! thanks for the info!
Here’s a couple of historical facts you missed…. The “Bunnyman Bridge” or the Colchester Road Bridge was the site of a train platform that was abandoned. It’s long gone, but some the arches built to support the platform were rumored to be the home of an escaped mental patient they called the Bunnyman.
Manassas Junction was formerly known as Tudor Hall. It got the name Manassas Junction from when the Orange and Alexandria RR built a line going Northwest toward Front Royal called the “Manassas Railroad”. It was either named for a local landmark (I think a mountain) or a kindly Jewish trader who lived near the route who was named Manassas or something similar.
The junction turned this sleepy little village into a critical transportation hub, and put the crosshairs of war on it.
Fantastic context, thanks.
You did a great job. I live in Texas and we don’t have passengers trains in most cities
Back in the 90s, I used to drive 20 minutes every morning to the last station on the Manassas line, catch one of the 4 trains in (half-hours between about 6am-8am) for an hour ride, and then walk 15 min to the office in Crystal City. Same thing in reverse at night (trains left DC around 4-6pm). The trains were shorter then and I never remember seeing those tall cars.
The service is much better now and is going to get even better
Amazing video
6:42 the Colchester Overpass is the basis for the "Bunny Man" urban legend. that said, don't go there on Halloween because you likely will get turned away
10:10 "southbound" on the Cardinal to Chicago, which is north of NYC (smh)
I think it's pretty cool that this railway has a station with a grade crossing going through it. I'm pretty sure the Hawthorne station on NJ Transit is also like that.
Metra (and anyone else buying their vehicles second hand or new to their spec) has probably the coolest door chime in the world.
ok but consider: WMATA 3000 series
Not to my taste. Find it pretty dull to be honest. Even some disharmonic ones like here in Germany the Berlin U-Bahn are better for me. Coolest one over here, also quite disharmonic as well is probably Berlin S-Bahn. Outside Berlin they all are mostly just one tone beepers.
Virginia mentioned :Steam_Happy:
There is NO stopping the lads!!!
I think trains stopping across roads is normal for Chicago's Metra too 😅
Manassas station is the backdrop for the cover of the album Manassas by Stephen Stills and the band Manassas. It’s a great classic rock/Americana album. Stills also recorded another album called Thoroughfare Gap. The title track is a beautiful song where he compares his life to a train climbing that gap in the Blue Ridge just west of Manassas Junction.
Take me back to Olde Virginy! Really neat sights there! I have a friend from Manassas! Pretty town! Looking forward to the second part of this! You should tour where the Amtrak Auto Train starts. It's in that area!
yeah, i wanted to ride the fredericksburg line but unfortunately i didn't have time to do that *and* all the other stuff i wanted to do, so i shelved it! I may well ride it next time I'm in DC tho!
The Virginia dot is great they buy CSX main lines
well currently they're run by glenn youngkin (🤮) but yes pissing off class I freight railroads is always great
0:32
Worth noting here that this image was taken after the bridge at that location had been burned down during a cavalry raid during the war. Union engineers had to rebuild the span in order to enable for the line to continue to be used.
Some pretty wrong assumptions. You need better reaserch.
@@marksadams01, that is the description of the image provided by the LOC and most every website.
@@MatthewChenault The given descriptions and the video (obviously) are real, but the "guesses" the vloggers make on a variety of topics are way off base.
A new long bridge will be built next to the old bridge and scheduled to open in 2030
VRE begin operations 32 years ago in June 1992
As you can see their is no Clifton station platform
And no one is allowed to ask why that bus foamer shot had its sound muted. _wink_
I met you on the train
mhm i 100% wasn't mocking the south at all 100% no
fr tho i was gonna include that but my mocking-the-south-southern accent was SO BAD so i didnt
@@honajtransitYou also [EXPLETIVE DELETED] told me that it would be a coach bus...
Virginia has really been improving its rail transit and it's going to get even better with new initiatives they're kicking off. VRE and Amtrak are going to continue to improve and get faster and hopefully electrified and connected to the NEC someday. Richmond to DC electrification would be bad ass
wait do trains in NYC not stop across roads, how do you even avoid that?
in a couple places yes, but for the most part, the platforms are long enough to avoid that
👍
You never explained what makes it extremely weird!
i guess i never did exactly, you’re right! i’d say the gallery cars, peak-only schedule, and overall badness make it weird!
Overall badness? I ride the VRE all the time. It’s clean, safe and reliable.
@@honajtransit It used to be worse, as in, trains would go out in the morning, park in the yard in DC, then come back in the evening. Now at least they have some doing a round trip. Like that 1:15 you took. It goes to Broad Run, then heads back to DC, then goes back to Broad Run. Apparently getting agreements with the NS is the issue. That also is why they don't have weekend trains (but are working on it)
@RMTStudios It may be, but it also has ZERO weekend service, and extremely limited reverse- and off-peak service...so, imo im justified in calling it bad...
@@honajtransit it’s a commuter train, so of course it’s designed for commuters. You seem to not understand the limitations that VRE has due to the fact
That CSX and Norfolk Southern owns all of the track and the Long Bridge is a massive choke point for the entire North East Corridor.
Now, VRE is adding weekend service and more trains soon, and they’re going to be building a new Long Bridge just for the passenger traffic from Amtrak, VRE and possibly MARC going down to Alexandria.
Virginia had recently added Amtrak service from Norfolk and Roanoke, which is more of a traditional, non commuter train service.
As commuter rail systems go, I feel VRE does a great job within their limitations.
I see my comment about your video being posted to a different social media platform's r /nova got deleted. I read it there and came here.
oh huh, who knew the hellhole (affectionate) that is reddit knew of my channel?
VRE is not weird
i think it is, but you’re entitled to your opinion!
I would also recommend taking the Fredericksburg line sometime. It’s one the most beautiful rail lines I’ve ever ridden.
yeah, i wanted to ride the fredericksburg line but unfortunately i didn't have time to do that and all the other stuff i wanted to do, so i shelved it! I may well ride it next time I'm in DC tho!
@@honajtransit The best ride is to catch the train at Richmond and take the Northeast Regional to Union Station. The stop at Ashland is really neat. The platform is a median of the main road for the town. You also get a gorgeous view of Mary Baldwin College’s historic campus.
The train also will take you trough one station located in a nature preserve, and one that stops on the Marine Base at Quantico! It’s a really neat ride.