The Best Gallery Cars Out There? Riding the Virginia Railway Express from DC to Fredericksburg

Hello and welcome to Washington Union Station. Today we are going to be riding south to Fredericksburg with the Virginia Railway Express, a lesser used commuter line, connecting Virginia to the Heart of the Nation.
Previous Video: The Downeaster: Amtrak's Train from Boston to Maine!: • The Downeaster: Amtrak...
- Train Information -
Train Number: VRE Fredericksburg Line Train 301
Train Consist: 1 MPI MP36PH-3C with 4 Gallery Cars
Departure Time: 1:00pm
Scheduled Arrival Time: 2:46pm
Journey Time: 1 hr 46 min
Top Speed: 80 mph
Price: $12.15
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- Chapters -
0:00 Intro and Washington Union Station
0:50 The Main Hall: Union Station’s Centerpiece
1:21 The Train Concourse and Tracks 23-28
2:07 Ticketing on VRE
2:36 Track Level and the Arrival of Train 301
3:07 Boarding
3:37 Seating Onboard VRE
4:25 The Rear Window!
4:41 Departure from Union Station and the Tunnels under DC
5:20 A Past Life of Electrification
6:17 Crossing the Potomac
6:32 Stats for Nerds!
7:42 Subscribe! And check out the Patreon!
8:06 VRE’s Gallery Cars: The Best of a Bad Bunch
8:25 The Upper Galleries
9:12 DC Metro and Amtrak: Alternatives to VRE
10:00 Surprisingly Nice Bathrooms!
11:11 Nature’s Beauty: Green Countryside and Blue Waters
11:35 Arrival and Disembark into Fredericksburg
11:49 Train 301 Departs to Spotsylvania
12:02 An Unexpected Arrival: Auto Train #52
12:56 Next Week: Thalys TGV Premium Class!
13:14 Subscribe!
13:31 Thanks for Watching!
Equipment:
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro Max
Gimbal: DJI OM5
Camera: GoPro Hero 9 Black
Camera: Sony AX-43
Mic: Rode Videomic Pro+
Tripod: Coman DF06 + Manfrotto 502 Head
#VirginiaRailwayExpress #VRE #Amtrak

[@johnkeenan5404]

I lived in Quantico and Stafford for 19 years and often rode the VRE. It sure beat being stuck in traffic on I-95.

[@LonestarTrips]

I'll bet. Traffic on that route seems like a nightmare, so having a rail alternative is awesome.

[@davinp]

This 4 car train is VRE's shortest set as the use 7 and 8 car train sets during rush hour

[@kitchin2]

VRE sounds well run.

[@LonestarTrips]

It's definitely up there among the best commuter lines in the US.

[@train5352]

The Fredericksburg Express is my favorite Metrorail commuter line!!! 🚅

[@davinp]

Between Rippon and Quantico, a new Potomac Shores station is being built after years of delays

[@jackthompson5125]

I prefer the MARC train in Maryland. I love how it can take you all the way to West Virginia and it’s even cheaper then the VRE!

[@pleappleappleap]

They should merge.

[@bradzeigler]

I think you priced out the WAS to FBG trip on Amtrak during a Virginia sale. It’s normally about $17 to Fredericksburg. Around the same time I was able to book a ticket from Alexandria to Lynchburg for $13 on Amtrak. That’s a steal for the rare in state rail trip that’s actually faster than driving.

[@markdavid7013]

We should really consider upgrading this and other corridors to electric motive power.

[@LonestarTrips]

Agreed. But as with most railways in the US, the tracks are owned by a freight railway, which means the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.

[@nathanjiang100]

@@LonestarTrips the state is in the process of buying out the right-of-way from DC to Richmond so electrification in the future is not out of the question

[@LonestarTrips]

@@nathanjiang100 Oh, I was unaware of this! I really hope they choose to electrify out to Richmond, it would really speed things up south of DC.

[@bradzeigler]

@@LonestarTrips The third track will speed things up along the old RF&P corridor, but I don’t expect electrification any time soon. The ROI just isn’t there.

[@ybunnygurl]

​@@bradzeigler actually they are looking at electrification; The Long bridge which is the bridge between Virginia and DC is supposed to be rebuilt and it is going to be rebuilt with overhead electrification. There is federal money that's been earmarked and set aside for electrifying the rails down to Richmond.... Will that happen in my lifetime is questionable, but it's likely because apparently the ultimate plan is to have the accela run from Richmond to Boston, then moveing south to Charlotte; Atlanta and I think ultimately it's supposed to end in Miami. That may be a pipedream. However brightline happened so who's to say that more private rail couldn't end up making all those connections possible.

[@TypoKnig]

I commuted via VRE from Franconia-Springfield, during one of the Metro maintenance shutdowns. I like VRE. It’s faster to downtown than Metro, because it has fewer stops. I wish VRE had more trips, but the freight trains have to go through sometime.

[@daniellewis1789]

Here's to the Long Bridge getting doubled - that project is underway!

[@carlsmith5545]

They need to keep freight trains and passenger trains separate. Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology, the new american dream...

[@calebtrains2261]

Cool Video. This Is My Local Commuter Railroad, And I've Ridden On Both Lines Before.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for a great video ! I agree with all that you say, and must confirm I am a very happy user of the VRE on the Fredericksburg line. I also really like the VRE Gallery cars, which are always very clean and well maintained.

[@LonestarTrips]

I'm glad you enjoyed! VRE's gallery cars really are the best, and I'm glad they do their best to keep them in such great condition.

[@lifeofcollecting5216]

Awesome, I took this exact train last summer but to Alexandria. Thank you for doing this video so I probably don't have to. LOL. I used a camera with focusing issues, next time I'll use my phone. What I hope to do in the future is to take the Manassas line to Manassas and back being it has return trains. Great work!

[@LonestarTrips]

It's certainly worth the ride. A great experience overall, and rather cheap too.

[@ybunnygurl]

With luck VRE will get the trains going to Fredericksburg going in both directions within the next year or two like they're planning on.

[@Big-4]

Auto trains popularity is interesting considering its on time performance & cost. 5 hours is actually pretty typical for its delay behind schedule vs the NE regional lines which are very reliable & consistent!

[@davinp]

VRE had Amtrak step-up tickets for riding select Amtrak trains, but was suspended due to the pandemic. VRE it working with Amtrak bring back the step up program

[@kanchanananayakkara8959]

Love the way you explain things! Thumbs up!!

[@NameReveal-yy7qb]

10:15 these are the best train bathrooms in the world

[@joshuafajardo5697]

The Red Line is the 🚇 line that serves Union & the H/Benning Line is the 🚊 that serves Union

[@jessicaburdell7779]

Be coming through part of this same route, though via the roadway on Greyhound through VA soon, on the way down to my training with Norfolk Southern.

[@jamallhayden2512]

Thank You!

[@gordonsnell6735]

Pretty cool 😎😎

[@jimnice74656]

I wish they would extend the Fredericksburg line to Richmond. It would take a lot of cars off I95.

[@swaqy._]

they should also extend the Manassas line to roanoke

[@davinp]

VRE bought these as new Gallery cars which are now just over a decade old

[@dccavalier]

Never rode VRE but because it only runs inbound in the AM and outbound PM and there’s no all day reverse trips and only weekdays. I haven’t taken a ride yet but Fredericksburg would be a good day trip if trains ran both ways.

[@johnsisk1458]

A while back vre purchased a NC d.o.t locomotiv

[@theodoretaylor5228]

Lol At least metras gallery cars have electric outlets and seats that fold either direction though! Good video too though.

[@pacificostudios]

Newer Metrolink cars have electric outlets under tables, and refurbished Coaster cars have electric outlets and USB at table seats. Personally, I'm happy with just electric outlets, since everyone can use them, although the Coaster outlets are located the make using an adapter almost impossible. Pacific Surfliner cars have electricity at every seat row, although two people sitting side by side must share one outlet, unfortunately.

[@johnsisk1458]

Could you post a video about wmata ( Subway ) metrorail and light rail

[@davidfreeman3083]

About the electrification: my understanding is that the tunnel that you went through immediately out of union station (officially known as the first street tunnel) was never electrified. And I would argue that maybe if that's not the case the electrification might be preserved. As since this tunnel itself is not electrified, electric trains can't pass through after going into union station. And electric trains from the south can't pull into Union station. Even with the electrification through L'Enfant.

[@pacificostudios]

That makes sense. Freight traffic was electrified north of Potomac Yard, but passenger service switched to electric at Washington. I think there was talk, during steam days, of electrifying the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac, since it was the only railroad between D.C. and the South, but that didn't happen.

[@ER_ProductionsRailz]

can you ride the NMRX soon?

[@superiorjr154]

Looks like Metra from Chicago

[@davinp]

You didn't show crossing the Occoquan River bridge into Woodbridge

[@user-ll2nd5mp7x]

VRE should switch to Bombardier Bi Level Train Cars

[@adambuesser6264]

Why did electrification ended at Washington Union Station?

[@LonestarTrips]

It just wasn't practical to extend further than that. Plus PRR didn't own the tracks south of Potomac yard, so they couldn't really go any further than they already did.

[@wreesmandm]

I'm moving to nova this summer and hoping to commute using the VRE, so this is super helpful!! Sorry for the personal question, but can I ask how tall you are? I'm 6'3" and am hoping to work on my laptop on the train, was wondering if I'll fit!

[@LonestarTrips]

I too am 6’3”, so what you see is what you get. You’ll have enough space to work if you flip the seats into a group of four, but an individual row would be too cramped.

[@jg-7780]

It's certainly a pleasant ride, but the biggest issue with VRE is that with extremely limited exceptions, it ONLY runs peak direction commutes. That is, trains run on weekdays only, with almost every train going into DC in the morning, and back to Virginia in the afternoon, with just 1-2 reverse trains on the Manassas line and none on the Fredericksburg line. In addition to being an expensive and inefficient way to run a railroad (as each trainset provides just 1 or 2 daily round trips), this makes the service almost useless for DC or MD residents.

[@jbirzer]

Once they expand Long Bridge, you will probably see MARC extend into VA. right now, that's the biggest bottleneck for more service.

[@kitchin2]

Autotrains are also Amtrak’s longest trains, up to 50 carriages. If you count only the passenger coaches, they may still be the longest pax trains in the US. Revenue is pretty good vs cost. They run up to 50 cars only when needed, usually it’s about 40 I think. Of course the problem is trains south of WAS are delayed by NS and CSX more or less proportional to distance, and it’s a long way to Florida. An auto is required to buy a ticket on the AT. Sleeper costs extra.

[@samtrak1204]

Auto Train service has deteriorated drastically over the past few years.

[@pleappleappleap]

Is L'Enfant north of Union Station?

[@samtrak1204]

Did you eat at the Alpine station restaurant in Fredericksburg?

[@LonestarTrips]

Unfortunately not. I had a super quick turnaround in Fredericksburg, as I only had around 20-30 minutes between my arrival and the departure of my connecting ride on the Carolinian back up north.

[@samtrak1204]

@@LonestarTrips The exact trip I took last spring and ran into a former co-worker who was LSA in Carolinian cafe car. BTW: Alpine calamari and sides are great.

[@LonestarTrips]

@@samtrak1204 I'll have to stop by the Alpine next time I'm in the area.

[@SirKenchalot]

Aren't Thalys services rebranded as Eurostar now?

[@LonestarTrips]

I believe it's all under the Eurostar Group name now, but at the time of filming, the service I booked was still advertised as a Thalys train.

[@SirKenchalot]

@@LonestarTrips Well I just thought I'd point the tout in case you had a chance to update your video and thereby avoid jerks like me filling your comments' section with pedantic corrections.

[@willgibson9718]

I am at Washington DC because I am going to a wedding 💒 Can you please make more videos about Washington DC ? What is the bridge is that cool at 6:27?

[@carlsmith5545]

Amtrak? It will be nice when they obtain highspeed bullet trains.

[@LonestarTrips]

That likely won’t happen for the next couple decades, if ever.

[@carlsmith5545]

@@LonestarTrips yeah and that's crazy considering the mighty United States of America is already decades behind. What a shame for a country that can put a man on the moon but can't do trains. Welp atleast California has the motivation and heart to be the first in highspeed rail despite all the criticisms and negativity and protests. Hopefully when completed everyone all over the country will stand up and push for it even more. Im getting ready to travel to Japan to experience true highspeed bullet trains and hopefully ride on the maglev super train.

[@lalakerspro]

@@carlsmith5545 Maglevs arent real trains. Even europe doesnt have any maglevs

[@davinp]

Unfortunately Union Station has become a dead mall as many stores left during the pandemic

[@StudioSA15]

Mm bt a

[@LonestarTrips]

Soon!

[@StudioSA15]

@@LonestarTrips ok also do you play train simulator

[@LonestarTrips]

@@StudioSA15 I do, but not a ton.

[@StudioSA15]

@@LonestarTrips do you have the JDTS metrolink pack

[@LonestarTrips]

@@StudioSA15 I do not.

[@abdullahakhtar9824]

It would take me 1 hr less to reach Fredericksburg if I went by car

[@LonestarTrips]

If time is what you’re after, then Amtrak will make the journey in an hour.

[@abdullahakhtar9824]

@@LonestarTrips don’t worry. I have been on the shalimar line in Pakistan. Nothing in america will be more delayed and time wasting than that even though that line has priority