MARC and VRE unveil ticket-sharing agreement for easier transfers

Jacob Kerr | jkerr@wtop.com
August 9, 2024, 4:44 AM

The D.C. region’s two commuter rail services announced Thursday they are bringing back a ticket-sharing agreement, making train travel between Maryland and Virginia a little smoother for passengers.

As of Thursday, MARC and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) riders with a weekly, monthly or 10-trip pass on either service can transfer to the other at D.C.’s Union Station without having to buy a new ticket. The program currently does not apply to single-trip tickets. The two train systems previously had a similar agreement, but it ended in 2015.

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The move comes as the Metropolitan Council of Governments launched a new task force earlier this year with the goal of better integrating the region’s various transit options. VRE CEO Rick Dalton said the move is a first step in aligning the two rail services.

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Last year, Maryland officials reached a framework with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to potentially allow MARC trains to go to Alexandria in the future. Meanwhile, Virginia has explored extending VRE to Richmond and the New River Valley.

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