VRE to kick off meetings on proposed Gainesville-Haymarket extension

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will host a meeting Nov. 10 to inform the public about a proposed extension of commuter-rail service on the Manassas Line.

The VRE is evaluating an 11-mile extension along the Manassas Line via the Norfolk Southern Railway B-Line, extending from the city of Manassas through Gainesville to the town of Haymarket near the U.S. Route 15 and Interstate 66 intersection, VRE officials said in a post on the railroad’s website.

VRE initiated the Gainesville-Haymarket extension study in July. The study will evaluate possible station locations and service plans, identify track improvements and identify a locally preferred alternative. The study also will include preliminary engineering design of the extension, as well as an environmental impact assessment.

The Nov. 10 meeting will be the first of a series of community meetings. It will be held in Gainesville.