Why trains are delayed on VRE’s Manassas Line

Virginia Railway Express first activated PTC on a Fredericksburg Line train with riders on Feb. 14. Rollout on the Manassas Line began April 1. (WTOP/Max Smith )

Expect delays on the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line to persist through Tuesday afternoon due to speed restrictions from maintenance work.

VRE trains are only traveling at 25 mph, resulting in delays of up to 45 minutes on Tuesday. Commuters on Monday saw similar delays.

Restrictions have been in place since this weekend after regular track maintenance at a Norfolk Southern facility in Virginia, said VRE spokeswoman Karen Clarkson.

Clarkson said a certain amount of weight needs to roll over the tracks before they can be inspected, and that speed restrictions will only be lifted when inspections have been completed.

The earliest that would occur, Clarkson said, is Tuesday afternoon.

Alejandro Alvarez

Alejandro Alvarez joined WTOP as a digital journalist and editor in June 2018. He is a reporter and photographer focusing on politics, political activism and international affairs.

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