Passenger Trains > Alexandria 2nd busiest all-diesel station with two tracks

When Amtrak adds the additional trains to/from Norfolk and Roanoke on July 11, Alexandria Union Station, VA on weekdays will be served by 24 Amtrak (2 more than Albany-Rensselaer)
and 32 VRE trains.  56 trains for a station that presently has two passenger tracks.
#1 in this category would be Route 128 (Boston, MA area) which has 36 electrififed Amtrak and MBTA diesel trains.  Runner-ups with two serving tracks is Glenview, IL (16 Amtrak/38 Metra)
Fullerton, CA, which has three track (do all 3 handle passengers?) has 22 Amtrak and 32 Metrolink.
VRE has been working on a new platform to serve TK 1 (presently CSX freight only) for years - has anyone seen any progress on this project?
Andy 

Middle track in Fullerton is freight only. Can be used in an emergency, but I've never personally seen that done.

The Alexandria platform improvement project is currently in final design.

https://projects.vre.org/project?Project=Alexandria%20Station%20Improvements

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

I know this is not all that relevant to the original post but Re: RTE 128 station, I count about 34 daily Amtrak trains and about 68 daily MBTA trains (Stoughton/Providence/Wickford Jct) for a total of about 102 daily.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/22 14:14 by JPB.

Fullerton CA has a fourth track for Metrolink commute trains.

Back in the mid 90's I had CSXT put in two gates in the chain link fence separating tks 1 and two so tk 1 could be used for emergencies. This access was used occasionly and could be easily upgraded

usmc1401 Wrote:
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> Fullerton CA has a fourth track for Metrolink
> commute trains.

This is true... this is a stub end track tht was added to the station some time back.

mp208 Wrote:
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> Back in the mid 90's I had CSXT put in two gates
> in the chain link fence separating tks 1 and two
> so tk 1 could be used for emergencies. This access
> was used occasionly and could be easily upgraded

The project will bring both platforms up to standard height of 8" above the rail head. The timber crossing will be removed.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Do the VRE cars now need a step box in Alexandria ? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/22 13:57 by joemvcnj.

102 weekday diesel trains past each Caltrain
station N of Santa Clara; most stations have
two tracks. Dunno what other RRs beat that.

usmc1401 Wrote:
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> Fullerton CA has a fourth track for Metrolink
> commute trains.

The fourth track is no longer used. The O.C. turns were cancelled some time ago.

Surprised nobody mentioned Martinez!