The Manassas Line is a Virginia Railway Express commuter rail service that extends from Washington, D.C. to Bristow, Virginia.^[1] The first of VRE's two lines, with service beginning on June 22, 1992,^[2] the line operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation (the RF&P Subdivision) and Norfolk Southern Railway (the Washington District).^[3]

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Manassas Line
VRE train in Manassas station.
Overview
Status	Operating
Owner	Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX Transportation
Locale	Washington, D.C., Fairfax County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia
Termini	Washington Union Station Bristow, VA
Stations	10
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Virginia Railway Express
Train number(s)	321–338
Operator(s)	Virginia Railway Express
History
Opened	June 22, 1992
Technical
Line length	35 miles (56 km)
Character	grade-separated, Underground and above ground
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed	79 mph (127km/h) (top) 26.6mph (42.5km/h) (average)
Route map Manassas Line highlighted in blue Show interactive map Legend MARC Amtrak Union Station First Street Tunnel L'Enfant Long Bridge over Potomac River Washington, D.C. Virginia Crystal City Alexandria Fredericksburg Line to Spotsylvania Amtrak Backlick Road Rolling Road Burke Centre Clifton (seasonal) Manassas Park Manassas Broad Run Amtrak Both VRE services sharing track All stations are accessible This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram

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The line south of Alexandria, Virginia, was once owned by Southern Railway, whose Crescent train stopped at the line's Alexandria and Manassas stations. When U.S. intercity passenger service was taken over by Amtrak, the new railroad continued the Crescent service between New Orleans and New York City.^[4]

In 1984, planning began for a commuter rail service for the area. Eight years later, after many new stations were constructed, Virginia Railway Express began operating trains on the line on June 22, 1992.

In 2009, Amtrak extended its Northeast Regional service south to Lynchburg, bringing more trains to Manassas and Burke Centre.^[5]

In 2017, VRE began a $2.8 million study of expansion to the Broad Run station and layover facility that would allow additional Manassas Line service.^[6]