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Virginia Railway Express is extending its free rides connecting Northern Virginia to D.C. for one more month.

The free rides will be limited to Zones 1-3. The three zones include six VRE stations: Backlick Road on the Manassas Line, Franconia-Springfield on the Frederick Line, Alexandria, Crystal City, L鈥橢nfant, and Union Station.听听

After October, riders in National Landing can expect to pay upwards of $6.35 for a single ride compared to the Metro rail cost of $2.40 for a ride from Crystal City to Union Station.听听听

鈥淥nce the period ends, fares will go back to what they were in August,鈥� VRE Public Affairs Administrator Karen Clarkson said. 鈥淭he staff is not recommending any increases in passenger fares, but it will be up to our operations board to make the final decision come December.鈥�听

Arlington resident Kerry Cannella rides the VRE from Crystal City to Union Station. When asked if he would continue to ride the VRE after it鈥檚 no longer free, Cannella said, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know.鈥�听听

Using the Metro, Cannella has to transfer to the Red Line to get to Union Station, and both the Blue and Yellow lines will take him there from Crystal City.听

鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind taking the Blue Line,鈥� Cannella said.听听

鈥�The only difference is that those using the Blue Line will have a slightly longer trip,鈥� Metro Media Relations Manager Sherri Ly said via email.听

Until May 2023, trains will be routed through the Rosslyn tunnel rather than the more direct connection across the Yellow Line bridge, according to Ly.听听

VRE was impacted by the pandemic, and it lost thousands of its daily riders over the past few years. .听听

Last month鈥檚 nine-month closure of the Metro Yellow Line and eight-week shutdown (the closure was extended to Nov. 5th) of Metro stops south of the airport gave VRE the opportunity to create 鈥渇ull platforms鈥� once again, according to Clarkson.听听听

鈥淭he decision to suspend fares will make VRE a more attractive and viable option for Metrorail riders,鈥� VRE said in a July press release.听听

Jimmy Mandilk, an Arlington resident, found out about the VRE through the September promotion, he said. When the Yellow line closed, Mandilk decided to start riding the VRE.听

鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 even thought about taking the VRE,鈥� Mandilk said while waiting at the Crystal City train stop. 鈥淭hen I saw an ad saying the VRE is free, and I was like, where does the VRE go? And that鈥檚 what led me to realize that I live not far from a VRE station.鈥�听听

On the flip side, VRE offering free rides encouraged D.C. resident Alex to travel to Virginia.听听

鈥淕oing down to spend money in Virginia because the VRE is giving me a free ride!鈥� DC resident Alex posted in a tweet on Sept. 8th.

The free rides are not the only thing to attract new rides to the VRE.听

VRE is great, Cannella said while standing on the Metro platform at Crystal City. 鈥淚 feel like the VRE is a lot nicer.鈥澨�听听

VRE saw its daily ridership go from 5,000-5,500 in August to around 6,000-8,000 and sometimes even more in September, according to Clarkson.听听The rail line听doesn鈥檛 know the exact number of people that get on at the Alexandria and Crystal City station since it鈥檚 not required to report those numbers to the National Transit Database, according to Clarkson.听听听

鈥淎necdotally, we have seen very full platforms at Alexandria,鈥� Clarkson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen an increase in ridership at Crystal City, but they are not reflected in those numbers.鈥�听

Metro鈥檚 Ly did not comment on how Metro鈥檚 daily ridership in the National Landing area is impacted by the closure, but she did say those still choosing to ride Metro can expect 鈥渁 slightly longer trip.鈥�听听听

Metro also offers free shuttle rides from Crystal City and Pentagon City to the L鈥橢nfant Station in D.C. between rush hour times, which are 6:24 a.m.- 9:12 a.m. and 3:24 p.m.- 7:24 p.m.

The VRE runs during similar times in Crystal City and Alexandria, as the VRE does not run between 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. and after 8 p.m.听

The Blue Line will continue to only go out to Ronald Reagan National Airport until Nov. 5th. In the meantime, buses will continue to replace the train from Ronald Reagan-Huntington during Metro rail hours, with bus pick-up starting at the Crystal City Station.听

Last month, freight rail unions threatened to strike but reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 16th.听听

If union members don鈥檛 ratify the agreement by Oct. 15th, VRE has the potential to shut down since it runs on track owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern, according to Clarkson.听听

Will riders continue to take the VRE when the Yellow line opens back up in May?听听听

鈥淚 will probably switch back to the Yellow,鈥� Mandilk said. 鈥淭he VRE is more convenient, and it鈥檚 also more expensive.鈥�听

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