Metro option opened for riders at noon

Update – Metro option open for evening commute

Starting at noon, Virginia Railway Express riders will be able to show a valid VRE ticket to Metro station managers, who will then let them ride Metro to get home.

The Metro option was opened this afternoon after all service on VRE’s Manassas line was canceled Friday due to low-hanging power lines over the rails, and trains on the system’s Fredericksburg line this morning were delayed because of flood restrictions imposed by CSX, the railroad which owns the tracks.

The Metro option was also opened to riders this morning, as well as yesterday’s morning and afternoon commutes.

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Woordbridge, Va. –– As if it were a scene from the movie Groundhog Day, flood restrictions are in effect and the Metro option is open this morning for Virginia Railway Express riders.

Though the flood restrictions will only be in effect until 7 a.m. on the Fredericksburg line, the railroad is expecting 30 to 45-minute delays, according to a statement from the agency.

The Metro option – where VRE riders show a valid ticket to the station managers at Metro stations to board the subway trains – will be in place through the end of the morning rush hour.

Riders must still pay to park in Metro’s garages and parking lots.

This morning’s changes come after massive delays on VRE yesterday, during the morning and evening rush hours. Many riders were delayed for hours on their treks to and from work, and many who used the Twitter social networking service used it to vent their frustrations.

“Watching restroom line grow by 10 as VRE takes 4 hours; maybe time to move to another car,” Tweeted @Nethead.

Not only were the trains slow Thursday, they were crowded.

“VRE under flood restrs. 15 mph. ETA 1 hr late. Overcrowded but 2 more stops. 3 male passengers gave up seats to women. Chivalry not dead,” Tweeted @Eicdocet.

Rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole, which caused the delays and subsequent flooding in the Potomac communities, have moved out of the area leaving behind high winds in its wake.

At 5 a.m., temperatures in the area were hovering in the low 60s, with a flash flood warning still in effect for Stafford County, and coastal flood advisories in effect for Fairfax and Prince William counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Looking ahead in the forecast, the rain is done for now, at least until Sunday when we could see some showers popping up.

Until then we can expect clearing skies for the remainder of the day, with temperatures in the low 70s.

On Saturday, sunny skies are forecasted with temperatures in the high 60s.

Expect highs in the low 60s on Sunday.