VRE details Manassas station redesign, 2027 construction target; Saturday service possible but undated

Virginia Railway Express officials briefed the Manassas City Council Committee of the Whole on a concept-level redesign of Manassas station and associated yard work that would support new railcars and improve pedestrian, vehicular and accessibility conditions.

VRE representatives told the council the project would lengthen and straighten track at the yards to accept 21 new railcars, rework yard access and build station improvements in Manassas, and that environmental review under NEPA and preliminary engineering are next steps with anticipated construction starting in summer 2027.

The update matters because the yard and station work is designed both to accommodate an incoming fleet and to reduce conflicts among trains, vehicles and pedestrians at the downtown station, officials said. VRE also signaled it is studying limited Saturday service but gave no firm start date.

Rich Dalton, VRE chief executive officer, said, “The big thing to know here is we ordered 21 railcars,” and that accepting deliveries requires reconfiguring yard tracks and some station facilities. VRE’s deputy CEO and chief engineer (Dallas) described three main station objectives: safety improvements that…