Recent Blog Posts
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- By-Passing Stations During a Delay
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By-passing a station is something done only if absolutely necessary. The decision to express any train past a station is always made with the operational interest of the entire railroad (VRE, Amtrak and freight) in mind. It is typically invoked when one train is operating so late that it is practically operating on the next train's schedule.
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- Receiving News and Delay Alerts
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VRE embraces the world of social networking sites to both communicate and interact with our riders.
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- PTC-Related Delays
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What are PTC-related delays?
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- Operational Testing
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Are you wondering, "Operational testing delayed my train. Why can't it be done some other time?"
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- Flash Flood Speed Restrictions
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In an area where flooding is possible and current conditions warrant, CSX and Norfolk Southern may implement 40 mph speed restrictions in the affected area.
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- Two Trains Approaching Alexandria
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Why do trains sometimes wait in Alexandria?
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- Track Work
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After the work is complete, speed restrictions are placed along the repaired track until enough train tonnage passes over to make sure the ties, rail and/or rail-bed has settled properly.
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- Track Congestion
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Track congestion means there is a high number of trains traveling within our operational area.
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- Switch Issue
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Prior to the maintainer's arrival, the dispatcher may give the train crew permission to hand throw the switch.
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- Mechanical Issue
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Mechanical issues sometimes happen regardless of the age of the locomotive and are different than equipment issues.
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- In the Event of an Incident
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Please note that we cannot disclose details of any incident prior to an official statement from the host railroad.
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- High Wind Orders
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For safety reasons, our host railroads require trains to stop when high wind alerts are received that exceed operational limits.
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- Disabled Freight Train
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Disabled freight trains in our service area cause delays when rail traffic must hold.
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- Fallen Tree
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What happens when a tree falls on the tracks?
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- Amtrak Regional Service
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Why your Amtrak Step-Up train may be delayed
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- Alexandria Shuffle
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The "Alexandria Shuffle" is a strategy to help us recover in certain evening service disruptions.
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- U.S.N.O. Time
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VRE's trains run not by the time it says on your watch, but by the time that the U.S. Naval Observatory Time Services Department says it is.
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- Understanding the Need for Heat Restrictions
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Steel rails slowly expand and contract as temperatures rise and fall. With a substantial change in temperature, even in early March, there can be heat restrictions.
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- Train Delays
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There are many reasons for delays and below, we try to highlight some of the major ones:
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- Leaf Oil
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When the leaves begin to fall, those that land on the damp surface of the rails are crushed under thousands of tons of steel.