Virginia Railway Express
Questions, Answers and Policies
Access: Trains, stations, and support systems operated by the Virginia Railway Express are designed to be accessible to persons with disabilities.
Who Qualifies?
Anyone who is in possession of a valid disabled identification card issued by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro), a valid Veterans ID or a valid Medicare Card.
How Do I Obtain A Metro Disabled ID Card?
The application for the Metro Disabled Patron ID card may be obtained by mail or in person from Metro (202) 962-1245 / TTY (202) 628-8973 or on Metro's website. As of September 2007, the most recent application could be found at http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/Reduced_Fare_Application.pdf. Please call Metro before filling out to make sure that they have not updated their form. The application must be filled out and signed by a physician as outlined on the application.
To obtain the Metro Disabled ID card, bring the completed application in person to the Metro ID office at 600 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. If you have any questions, please call (202) 962-1245 or (TTY) at 202/628-8973 for more information. This Metro office is open from 7:30am - 3:30pm. The Metro ID card is free. An initial card will be issued without a waiting period if you meet the eligibility criteria.
How much is the discount?
The discount is 50% off the cost of a regular priced VRE ticket, with the exception of the VRE-TLC ticket. Visit our reduced-fares page to view all discounted ticket prices.
All of our vendors are now able to sell the reduced fare tickets.
See our vendor pages for vendor locations.
Carry ID With You On The Train
Once you have obtained a Metro Disabled ID card or Medicare card,
carry it with you when you board the train. Proof of eligibility must
be available when using a discounted ticket.
Does VRE offer a disabled attendant pass?
Passengers who require assistance from their origination stations to
their destinations stations may have a certified assistant ride with them for
free. A disabled attendant pass is available for those persons needing an attendant
to help them navigate the VRE system. This pass is valid for any single attendant
assisting a rider holding a valid VRE ticket.
How do I Apply for a Disabled Attendant Pass?
To apply for a disabled attendant pass, the following must be submitted
to VRE:
The letter must be mailed to Virginia Railway Express
at the address below:
1500 King Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
attn: Disabled Attendant Pass
Upon receipt and verification, VRE will create a special fare exempt flash pass for an attendant. This process usually takes 10-15 working days from receipt.
An attendant fare exempt pass may be used only when the attendant is riding with the disabled person using a valid ticket. The pass will be valid through the calendar year. All passes expire on December 31 of each year and must be renewed by the rider. To renew a pass for the next year a new letter and request must be received by VRE no later than November 15.
What Do You Do When You Get To The Station?
After you have purchased your discounted ticket and arrived at the
station you are planning to depart from, make sure that you validate
your ticket in the validating machine on the platform. If
you require the use of the on-board wheel chair lift, board at the far
North end of the platform where you see the accessibility logo. All stations
are also equipped with manual chair lifts. The conductors will operate
the chair lift and lock the chair in place securely on the train. We
also have installed visual public address systems at every station. If
you need any further assistance, our conductors are always very helpful
and available. Just make them aware of your need.