The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will make adjustments to its fare schedule for the first time in five years, eliminating fares for those ages 18 and under beginning July 1.
Adult fares will increase by approximately 5%. That means, for example, a passenger riding the furthest distance — from VRE’s Spotsylvania Station to Union Station in Washington, D.C. — would see an increase of $0.65 for a single-ride ticket and $18 for a monthly pass.
The changes, which are included in VRE’s fiscal year 2025 budget, also make permanent a flat, $5 fare for travel within and between zones 1 (Union Station and L’Enfant), 2 (Crystal City and Alexandria) and 3 (Franconia-Springfield and Backlick Road).
Free youth travel on VRE comes with some caveats. Children 18 and under when accompanied by a fare-paying adult need no form of identification. Children ages 11-18 riding alone will need a valid school, state, or VRE Reduced Fare ID, an application for which is available online. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
VRE, the nation’s 14th largest commuter rail service, connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. Its two lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg, serve 19 stations, including two — L’Enfant and Union Station — in D.C.
Additional information, including fares and schedules, is available at www.vre.org.
