Virginia Railway Express Acquires Rail Yard Near Washington, D.C.

Virginia Railway Express Rippon station in Woodbridge, Va. (photo by David C. Lester)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has acquired Seminary Yard, a rail yard offering strategically-located infrastructure in Alexandria, Va., just outside of Washington, D.C.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) is the nation’s 13th largest commuter rail operator, and provides service from Central and Northern Virginia to Washington, D.C.

The carrier announced that the yard was purchased from the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), with VRE paying $35.8 million, as part of a five-year, $155 million deal between the two parties for the purchase of four separate property interests. Seminary Yard is a former Norfolk Southern freight yard, and VRE will utilize it for:

• Providing midday train storage;
• Expanding storage capacity for a growing fleet;
• Improving operational flexibility and reliability;
• Increasing resiliency through self-owned infrastructure; and
• Supporting future evening and weekend service.
  

In a press release, the railroad said, “Historically, VRE has relied on Amtrak’s Ivy City Coach Yard in Washington, D.C., for midday train storage—an arrangement that requires complex scheduling coordination. Seminary Yard brings this critical function closer to VRE’s core service area, reducing operational constraints and improving turnaround times.”

Katie Choe, VRE’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Midday storage is critical for VRE operations. With VRE preparing to vacate Ivy City as part of Amtrak’s Ivy City Rail Yard Revitalization project, Seminary Yard fills an immediate need for us while also ensuring adequate storage space for service expansion as we look to 2030 and beyond.”

Seminary Yard (Image courtesy VRE)

Virginia Railway Express System Map (Courtesy VRE)