VRE changes probed

Virginia Railway Express wants  to change some of its policies, and has invited its riders to comment on the proposed changes.

The commuter railroad would like to eliminate the group fare, which allows passengers who ride in groups of 10 or more a discounted fare. Regular riders have complained about the policy.

VRE also wants to decrease the cost of an Amtrak step-up ticket from $10 to $5 to help ease crowding on VRE trains. The hope would be more riders would opt to ride Amtrak trains, pay a little more than the cost of a regular VRE ticket  and get to their destinations on a less-crowded train.

VRE passengers have been paying the full $10 step-up fee since 2007, a VRE press release stated.

And there could be changes to the system’s bicycles on trains policy.

Riders are now allowed to bring bikes aboard the last three trains in the morning and evening.

But with space on trains increasingly becoming a commodity, the transit system wants to revert to an older policy that only allows collapsible bikes on VRE trains.

Riders may send their comments about the proposed changes via email until March 4, to [email protected].

Public hearing on the changes will be held at the following:

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Rappahannock Regional Library Theatre Room
1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, VA  22401 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
P.R.T.C. Board Room, 2nd Floor
14700 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192  7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Manassas City Hall City Council Chamber Room
9027 Center Street, Manassas, VA 22110  7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Washington Court Hotel,
525 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Burke Centre Conservancy, “The Commons” Community Center
5701 Roberts Parkway, Burke, VA 22015  7:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 24, 2011
V.R.E. Offices.
1500 King Street, Suite 202, Alexandria, VA 22314 12:00 p.m.