As Prince William County residents return to work and congestion increases on the region’s roads, many are rethinking their commutes. One option is the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), which has taken numerous precautions to protect passengers’ health and safety. These measures include an enhanced cleaning regimen, installation of social-distancing decals and hand-sanitizer dispensers on rail cars and platforms, and a facial covering requirement.
To ensure social distancing, decals guide riders to window seats in every other row. Only 45 of 130 seats in any rail car are available to passengers. Currently, no more than 50 percent of those available seats are in use. VRE’s train utilization web page helps riders find the train that best matches their social-distance comfort level. The rail system monitors ridership and has been adding and lengthening trains to allow for proper social distancing.
VRE cleans it trains twice daily. Overnight cleanings use acidic electrolyzed water, a potent yet nonirritating disinfectant. The acid produced by electrolyzing the water can be 100 times more powerful than the active ingredient in bleach. Produced on demand, this environmentally friendly product uses only salt, tap water and electricity.
VRE, which has four stations in the county, is operating on a reduced schedule, with nine trains running northbound weekday mornings and southbound in the evenings. VRE’s mobile app allows for the contactless purchase and validation of tickets. As residents head back to work, VRE is welcoming them back in the safest and healthiest way possible. Learn more at vre.org.