Pandemic update: VRE adds trains to promote social distancing

Rail News Home Security 7/27/2020 Rail News: Security
The new trains will give riders options as the number of available of seats on the Fredericksburg Line approaches 50 percent.Photo – VRE

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) today added a round trip to its Fredericksburg commuter-rail line to better support social distancing on platforms and trains during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The new morning train will reduce the number of riders on VRE's first northbound train of the morning, where the number of available seats is approaching 50 percent. The afternoon train will serve as an alternative for riders of two other trains, where the number of available seats is about 40 percent.

On the West Coast, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) yesterday introduced new social distancing guidelines directing riders to move to 3-foot spacing between other riders on trains. 

The reduced distancing will allow TriMet to moderately increase passenger limits, agency officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration donated 245,000 cloth masks to New Jersey Transit to be distributed to rail riders.