Virginia commissions approve $155 million Manassas rail line agreement

GenerateKeyTakeaways (VirginiaRailwayExpress) OwnersofthecommuterrailsystemVirginiaRailwayExpressonThursdaysignedoffonafive-year,$155millionagreementtopurchasetheManassasLine,allowingthesystemtoenhanceservicereliabilityandprovidecontroloverstationsandschedulesbetweenWashingtonD.C.andNorthernVirginia.  TheManassasLineoriginatesatUnionStationinWashington,D.C.,andgoestoBroadRuninPrinceWilliamCounty. ThemovewillgivetherailsystemownershipofSeminaryYardinAlexandria,allowingthesystemtoenhancetheexistingfreightrailyardandconstructamiddaystoragefacility.TheownershiprightswillalsogiveVREtheBroadRunCorridorfromAlexandriatoBroadRun,thepermanenteasementtofivestationplatformsandthepermanentcommuterrailoperatingeasementalongtheManassasLine. OnThursdaynight,theNorthernVirginiaTransportationCommissionandthePotomacandRappahannockRiverTransportationCommission,co-partnersofVRE,officiallyvotedatseparatemeetingstoauthorizetheVREchiefexecu