Virginia Railway Express
Woodbridge, VA · NTD ID 30073 · 2024 report year
Virginia Railway Express carries 1.6 million passenger trips a year on commuter rail service — making it the 237th-busiest transit operator in the United States. It is based in Woodbridge, VA.
It spends $106 million a year running that service, or $66.71 per trip. Its commuter rail service, the largest of its modes, costs $66.71 per rider — 50% above the $44.41 median for the 27 US agencies reporting commuter rail.
Over the 10 years reported, ridership remains 64% below its 2019 level, the last full year before the pandemic, and up 8% on 2023. Fares cover 15% of operating cost.
Service by mode, 2024
| Mode | Annual trips | Operating expense | Cost per rider | vs national median | Farebox | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter Rail#15 of 27 nationally | 1,589,693 | $106 million | $66.71 | +50% | 15% | 99 |
Ridership, 2015–2024
| Year | Annual trips | Operating expense (2024 $) | Cost per rider (2024 $) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,589,693 | $106 million | $66.71 |
| 2023 | 1,466,250 | $94.1 million | $64.21 |
| 2022 | 822,440 | $88.3 million | $107.31 |
| 2021 | 341,627 | $91.6 million | $268.09 |
| 2020 | 3,222,428 | $94.5 million | $29.32 |
| 2019 | 4,408,114 | $94.6 million | $21.47 |
| 2018 | 4,631,909 | $98.1 million | $21.17 |
| 2017 | 4,676,123 | $94.7 million | $20.25 |
| 2016 | 4,352,814 | $91.3 million | $20.98 |
| 2015 | 4,505,063 | $87.1 million | $19.33 |
Where Virginia Railway Express ranks
- Cheapest Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #21 of 24
- Most Expensive Commuter Rail Systems by Cost per Rider #4 of 24
- Highest-Ridership Commuter Rail Systems #15 of 27
- Best Farebox Recovery Among Commuter Rail Systems #11 of 24
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Ask NTD about Virginia Railway Express →Source & method. Figures are from the Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database (NTD) annual reporting for 2024, the most recent published report year. Cost per rider is operating expense divided by unlinked passenger trips. Farebox recovery is fare revenue divided by operating expense. Ten-year trends are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; single-year figures are as reported. Agencies self-report to the NTD, and reporting practice varies, so figures are best read as comparable in magnitude rather than to the cent.