VRE Chief to Retire

Woodbridge, Va. — The man behind one of the most impressive railroad deals in history decided to call it quits.

Virginia Railway Express CEO Dale Zehner announced his retirement Wednesday from his job as head of the commonwealth’s only commuter railroad. He was the railroad’s first named CEO, and joined VRE in 1995 after a long career in the U.S. Navy.

When the railroad was founded in 1992, many thought its ridership would never reach 10,000 daily riders. Last year VRE doubled that number, marking all-time ridership and on-time performance records.

“In these rough economic times, the VRE Operations Board and management team have brought stability and credibility to VRE by making every dollar count, delivering on a promise to complete capital projects on time and under budget, and refusing to settle for anything less than world class service for our riders,” said Zehner in a press release.

Zehner, 65, oversaw many changes to the system over the years, including the addition of a 5 a.m. train on the Fredericksburg line that alleviated crowding on later morning trains, but he may be best remembered for purchasing 30 rail cars for an unheard of price.

In the middle of the last decade, at a time when VRE trains were packed to the gills, Zehner brokered a deal with a Chicago-area commuter railroad to purchase 30 used rail cars for $1 each. As part of the deal, VRE also paid to have the 40-year-old double decker cars refurbished and transported to Northern Virginia where they were put to use, said VRE spokesman Mark Roeber.

Originally hired as a manager of budget and finance at VRE, he also tackled jobs like planned, customer service, public affairs and marketing before being named Chief of Staff in 2001 and CEO in 2004.

Zehner will officially step down from his post June 30, which leaves VRE officials time to conduct what is expected to be a nationwide search for his replacement.