Virginia Railway Express
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S
REPORT
July 2011
MONTHLY DELAY SUMMARY
System wide
Total delays
Average length of delay (mins.)
Number over 30 minutes
Days with Heat Restrictions/Total days
On-Time Performance
Fredericksburg Line
Total delays
Average length of delay (mins.)
Number over 30 minutes
On-Time Performance
Manassas Line
Total delays
Average length of delay (mins.)
Number over 30 minutes
On-Time Performance
March
April
May
June
76
18
7
0/23
89.0%
54
21
10
0/21
91.4%
52
25
13
6/21
91.7%
30
19
4
4/22
95.5%
58
16
3
82.0%
36
20
6
87.8%
28
23
6
90.5%
20
18
3
93.5%
18
25
4
95.1%
18
21
4
94.6%
24
28
7
92.9%
10
19
1
97.2%
SYSTEM RIDERSHIP
With an average daily ridership of 19,448 for June 2011, ridership increased 10.4% compared to
June 2010; approximately 1,800 more trips a day. Year-to-date ridership is 12.0% higher than
last year. Exactly 30 days have been over 20,000 trips. The top ten days are below:
1
2
3
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
April 12, 2011
March 23, 2011
April 13, 2011
May 10, 2011
April 6, 2011
March 29, 2011
May 18, 2011
March 15, 2011
June 7, 2011
March 30, 2011
1
21,496
21,136
20,803
20,803
20,791
20,694
20,596
20,573
20,563
20,545
SYSTEM ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
System wide on-time performance (OTP) was 95.45% in June, with 93.51% on the
Fredericksburg Line and 97.16% on the Manassas Line. There were seven days when both lines
were 100%. Every day OTP was over 90% except for June 1 (87%) and June 9 (70%). These
delays were primarily attributable to a passenger illness at Union station and weather related
slow orders.
INITIAL RESULTS OF REDUCTION IN STEP-UP TICKET PRICE FROM $10 TO $5
In March, the VRE Operations Board authorized a reduction of the Amtrak Step-Up fare from
$10 to $5. By lowering the price of the Step-Up ticket, I hoped to encourage VRE passengers to
ride under-utilized Amtrak trains.
We are now averaging 233 riders per day on Amtrak trains which is only slightly lower than
when the Step-Up fare was $2 (272 riders in FY 2007).
LOCOMOTIVE CENTRALIZED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM
VRE is rolling out Phase I of III of the Centralized Diagnostic System (CDS) for VRE trains. CDS
will provide VRE with real-time health monitoring, defect, and troubleshooting information.
CDS will also enable VRE to determine equipment problems as they occur and provide the
operating and mechanical teams with immediate corrective actions. The system also detects
non-critical events to alert the mechanical teams of potential failures to promote timely
preventive measures.
CDS is a web based system with a separate computer on each train to monitor events on both
the locomotive (Phase I) and passenger cars (Phase II). All of the data collected via the CDS
system will be used for analysis to enhance preventive maintenance and operating practices at
VRE.
I will provide a briefing on the Centralized Diagnostic System at an upcoming meeting.
FREDERICKSBURG LOT C HAS CLOSED
Friday, July 15th was the last day that VRE riders were able to use the 38 spaces in Lot C in
Fredericksburg. The current lease expired and VRE was unable to negotiate favorable renewal
terms. We have found a new lot to replace most of the spaces eliminated. The new lot is
located at 400 Charles Street and is available for use.
2
GAINESVILLE-HAYMARKET EXTENSION
Revisions to the Addendum to the Rail Enhancement Fund (REF) agreement for the GainesvilleHaymarket Extension project are underway to address changes requested by the
Commonwealth. The award of the consultant contract for environmental review and
preliminary engineering is pending the execution of this Addendum.
I-66 CORRIDOR TIER I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)
VDOT, DRPT and FHWA have initiated a study to identify current and future transportation
needs and their potential environmental impacts on the 25-mile corridor from I-495 to
Haymarket. The study will build upon previous analyses performed in the I-66 corridor,
including the I-66 Transit/TDM study completed by DRPT in late 2009. A draft EIS is expected
by June 2012 for public review and a final EIS is anticipated by June 2013.
VDOT has established a web site for the study at virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/i66_eis.asp.
LOCOMOTIVE PROCUREMENT
We have received 15 new locomotives. All VRE revenue trains (12 trains) are now equipped
with a new locomotive. The remaining five locomotives will be shipped by the end of August.
SUMMONS OVERVIEW
In June, there were 90 cases of fare evasion that were brought before the court, most of them
written in previous months. Details are provided below:
Outcome
Occurrences
Appealed
Prepaid
Guilty
Guilty in absentia
Continued
Dismissed
Dismissed
Waived due to TVM issue
Waived By VRE–Showed
Proof of Monthly Ticket
1
22
10
21
6
7
8
2
13
3
Fine
Court
Costs
$100
$100
$100
$81
$81
$116
0
0
0
0
$81
0
MEET THE MANAGEMENT
VRE Meet the Management continues its early morning meet and greet sessions. Customers are
encouraged to come by, ask questions, and grab some early morning snacks. Below please find
this years’ remaining Meet the Management schedule:
July 27
August 3
August 10
Woodbridge
Backlick
Lorton
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MONTHLY PERFORMANCE MEASURES – June 2011
MONTHLY ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
ON-TIME
PERCENTAGE
June Fredericksburg OTP Average
93.51%
June Manassas OTP Average
97.16%
VRE JUNE OVERALL OTP AVERAGE
95.45%
RIDERSHIP YEAR TO DATE
RIDERSHIP
VRE FY 2011 Passenger Totals
VRE FY 2010 Passenger Totals
4,517,366
4,033,230
12.0%
PERCENTAGE CHANGE
RIDERSHIP MONTH TO MONTH COMPARISON
DESCRIPTION
MONTHLY RIDERSHIP
JUNE 2011
427,852
JUNE 2010
369,989
PERCENTAGE CHANGE
10.4% NORMALIZED
SERVICE DAYS (CURRENT/PRIOR)
22/21
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