Single-Ride
- One way between the two fare zones printed.
- Valid for 1 year — must be validated ≤ 1 hour before boarding.
- Buy at platform Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), VRE Mobile app or approved vendors.
VRE Fares, Passes & Discounts
Virginia Railway Express uses a simple zone-based system. Choose a ticket, validate before boarding, and keep proof of payment for onboard inspection.
Ticket Types at a Glance
Day Pass
- Unlimited travel on the printed date for the zones shown.
- Validate once before your first train.
Ten-Ride Ticket
- 10 one-way trips; can be shared by multiple riders.
- Costs about 8 % less than ten single rides.
- Valid for 1 year. Each rider must validate their own ride.
31-Day Pass (Mobile-only)
- Unlimited trips for 31 days from first activation.
- ≈ 34 % off single-ride cost.
- Purchase & activate any day in the VRE Mobile app.
Monthly Pass (Paper)
- Unlimited rides for one calendar month. Paper ticket only.
- Same ~34 % discount as the 31-Day pass.
- Fully refundable before the 1st of the month; partial refund up to the 13th.
Transit Link Card (TLC)
- Joint VRE + Metrorail monthly pass.
- Same 34 % VRE discount plus Metro fare bundled.
- Available at Arlington Commuter Stores or CommuterDirect.com.
50 % Reduced Fare
- Seniors 65+, riders with disabilities, and youth 11-18 with VRE Reduced-Fare ID.
- Not available at TVMs; buy in VRE Mobile or select vendors.
Youth 18 & Under Ride Free
VRE offers free travel for everyone 18 and under. Riders 10 and under must travel with an adult at all times and do not need identification.
Ages 11–18 traveling with an adult also ride free with no ID required. Unaccompanied youth in this age range can show a school ID, state-issued ID, or driver’s license to qualify. If none of those are available, they may apply for a VRE-issued youth ID.
Sample Zone-to-Zone Prices (FY 2026)
| Trip (Zones) | Single-Ride | Ten-Ride | Monthly / 31-Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 ↔ Zone 4 (Spotsylvania → L'Enfant) | $13.00 | $117.00 | $276.00 |
| Zone 2 ↔ Zone 7 (Woodbridge → Union Station) | $9.25 | $83.00 | $196.00 |
| Zone 3 ↔ Zone 9 (Manassas → Crystal City) | $7.10 | $64.00 | $150.00 |
Prices from the approved FY 2026 fare chart. Download full fare table (PDF).
Fare & Ticketing FAQ
Where can I buy VRE tickets?
Use VRE Mobile for all ticket types, or station TVMs for paper Single-Ride, Day Pass, Ten-Ride and Monthly tickets. TLC passes are sold at Arlington Commuter Stores and CommuterDirect.com.
Do I have to validate my ticket?
Yes. Paper Single-Ride and Ten-Ride punches must be date-stamped in the platform validator ≤ 1 hour before boarding. Mobile tickets must be shown in "active" status to conductors.
Can I get a refund?
31-Day passes (mobile) and Monthly passes (paper) are refundable before their start date. Monthly paper tickets become non-refundable after the 13th of the calendar month. Single-Ride, Day and Ten-Ride tickets are non-refundable.
Information verified Feb 07 2026 from official VRE fare pages. Always confirm current prices on VRE.org.