ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — The Virginia Railway Express will make modest adjustments to its fare schedule for the first time in five years and eliminate fares for those ages 18 and under beginning Monday, July 1, 2024.
Adult fares will increase approximately 5 percent, well below the rate of inflation since 2019. 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, 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. Families taking day trips this summer to Northern Virginia and D.C. will find riding VRE to be more affordable and enjoyable than driving.
