What Alexandria rail riders need to know about Long Bridge construction changes
New VRE train now running; Amtrak changes and construction work windows begin Jan. 12
Rail commuters traveling through Alexandria are facing schedule changes as construction ramps up on the Long Bridge Project, the largest rail investment in the region in generations.
Virginia Railway Express schedule adjustments took effect Dec. 1, with additional changes to Amtrak Virginia service beginning Jan. 12 when construction work windows start. The changes will last through 2030. Here’s what riders need to know.
What’s changing
Starting Jan. 12, construction crews will work during a five-hour window from 8:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day, with no scheduled through-traffic on Long Bridge during that time. Work will occur six days a week through 2030, with no Sunday construction. D.C. noise and vibration regulations prohibit construction between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., requiring the daytime work windows.
VRE service
Virginia Railway Express schedule changes are already in effect as of Dec. 1. VRE will continue operating 32 trains per day — no service is being canceled. However, some later morning trains will terminate at Alexandria Union Station rather than continuing to Washington once work windows begin.
On the Manassas Line, VRE added a new northbound train — its first in a decade — departing Broad Run at 6:41 a.m. to accommodate riders before the work window begins. The reverse-flow Train 338, which previously departed Broad Run at 5:10 p.m., has been eliminated.
In the afternoon, passengers can still begin their trips at Union Station, L’Enfant or Crystal City, but some may need to transfer at Alexandria to continue south. Train 325 no longer serves Union Station — riders should board Fredericksburg Line Train 301 and transfer at L’Enfant.
“Our priority remains unchanged — providing safe, reliable, and efficient rail service to our ridership,” VRE Acting CEO Dallas Richards said in a statement. “While we work to preserve as much of our current service as possible, we recognize that some riders will need to adjust their current commutes.”
Amtrak service
Amtrak Virginia service will be affected starting Jan. 12. One round-trip between Washington and Norfolk and one round-trip between Washington and Richmond Main Street will be removed. Schedules for the Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Cardinal will be adjusted.
Amtrak said it will expand daily bus service between Washington, Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach to maintain connectivity.
Options for affected riders
Riders have several alternatives to work around the midday construction window:
Step-Up Program: VRE has previously offered a Step-Up Program allowing passengers to ride select Amtrak trains for a $4 fee. Check vre.org for current availability.
Metro connections: Alexandria Union Station connects to Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines. Other VRE stations with Metro access include Crystal City (Yellow, Blue), L’Enfant (Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green), Franconia-Springfield (Blue) and Union Station (Red).
Split transit benefits: Riders receiving transit subsidies can reallocate their benefits between VRE and Metro or other participating transit services. VRE customer service can assist with this process.
What’s being built
The service changes accommodate construction on three connected projects: the Long Bridge Project, the Alexandria Fourth Track project and VRE’s L’Enfant station project.
The Long Bridge Project will construct a new two-track passenger rail bridge across the Potomac River, doubling capacity from two tracks to four. The project represents a $5.8 billion investment and is the flagship of Virginia’s Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative.
The project also includes a new bike-pedestrian bridge spanning the Potomac River and George Washington Memorial Parkway, connecting Long Bridge Park to East and West Potomac Parks.
The Alexandria Fourth Track project will add six miles of track between Arlington and Alexandria, eliminating a bottleneck where five tracks currently narrow to three, then two. When complete, the corridor will have two dedicated passenger tracks and two dedicated freight tracks from Alexandria to Union Station.
Alexandria Union Station — the second-busiest station in Virginia with 358,000 Amtrak passengers in fiscal year 2024 — is also receiving upgrades. Improvements include raised platforms, a rehabilitated pedestrian tunnel, extended platforms for eight-car trains and new elevators. Those investments will help accommodate riders transferring there during construction.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Amtrak, VRE, CSX and Norfolk Southern developed the service plan jointly.
“We evaluated every possible scenario to limit the disruptions while providing our construction crews with the work window they need to safely complete the project on time and on budget,” VPRA Executive Director DJ Stadtler said in a statement. “Our goal is to offer as much service as possible while working to upgrade our infrastructure, with the final result being more rail service throughout the Commonwealth.”
What comes after
When the Long Bridge and related projects are complete, the improved infrastructure will enable expanded VRE service, including the system’s first-ever weekend and late-night trains.
The projects are expected to increase rail throughput by 33% and generate $6.7 billion in economic output, creating more than 33,000 jobs during construction.
VRE said the schedule adjustments are “temporary and may evolve” as construction continues. Riders should check vre.org and amtrak.com for updates.
More information
VRE schedules and alerts: vre.org
Amtrak schedules: amtrak.com
Long Bridge Project details: vapassengerrailauthority.org
Transit benefits guide: vre.org/service/transit-benefits
City of Alexandria rail projects: alexandriava.gov/RailProjects
