I have had a few experiences with VRE before traveling from Washington, D.C. to Stafford and Fredericksburg, Va to visit family as I traveled down from NYC by bus ( Chinatown Express or MegaBus). Both prior trips were very easy as train leaves Washington from Union Station.
I am now planning trips to Washington, D.C. and to Baltimore Maryland for interviews and for pleasure.
I went to the site and found the station nearest me in Stafford, Brooke VRE Station (also Amtrak). It's about 8.6 miles away, that's 23 minutes by car, (ride share) only feasible if I leave when brother-in-laws goes to work and he would offer to drop me off at Springfield Metro Station anyway. After reviewing somewhat confusing Fred Bus Site I realized it only operates in a direction oddly opposite of connecting to other Public Transportation and only usefull for shopping along 610 corridor from about 9:20 am - 4: 20pm. I don't know who uses it, I assume house keepers, my sister who has never seen it, but did tell me about it, says otherwise. SMH, LOL. If I bike it would take about 40-52 minutes and if I were to walk 2 hours and 48 minutes. Biking is the best option. Travel to Union Station is only $9.70 one way or $89.10 for a 10 ride pack of tickets, $ 77.40 for Five Day Pass and Monthly is a brisk $268.30. It's not NJ Transit but it's available here.
I did discover on the VRE site that there is a free transfer cross honor agreement with MARC allowing VRE riders, with a valid tickets, the ability to transfer for free to reverse-flow MARC trains. Reverse-flow trains are defined as trains that are going in the opposite direction of the rush-hour commuters.Riders are permitted to board on any VRE or MARC train leaving Washington until noon and return to Washington on any VRE or MARC train returning the same day, with the same ticket.
So potentialy my only problem to solve is how to get to the VRE and once there I could with proper planning make it as far as Union Station, Baltimore, Md for only $9.70, using free Marc Transfer option.
I am now planning trips to Washington, D.C. and to Baltimore Maryland for interviews and for pleasure.
I went to the site and found the station nearest me in Stafford, Brooke VRE Station (also Amtrak). It's about 8.6 miles away, that's 23 minutes by car, (ride share) only feasible if I leave when brother-in-laws goes to work and he would offer to drop me off at Springfield Metro Station anyway. After reviewing somewhat confusing Fred Bus Site I realized it only operates in a direction oddly opposite of connecting to other Public Transportation and only usefull for shopping along 610 corridor from about 9:20 am - 4: 20pm. I don't know who uses it, I assume house keepers, my sister who has never seen it, but did tell me about it, says otherwise. SMH, LOL. If I bike it would take about 40-52 minutes and if I were to walk 2 hours and 48 minutes. Biking is the best option. Travel to Union Station is only $9.70 one way or $89.10 for a 10 ride pack of tickets, $ 77.40 for Five Day Pass and Monthly is a brisk $268.30. It's not NJ Transit but it's available here.
I did discover on the VRE site that there is a free transfer cross honor agreement with MARC allowing VRE riders, with a valid tickets, the ability to transfer for free to reverse-flow MARC trains. Reverse-flow trains are defined as trains that are going in the opposite direction of the rush-hour commuters.Riders are permitted to board on any VRE or MARC train leaving Washington until noon and return to Washington on any VRE or MARC train returning the same day, with the same ticket.
So potentialy my only problem to solve is how to get to the VRE and once there I could with proper planning make it as far as Union Station, Baltimore, Md for only $9.70, using free Marc Transfer option.
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