Major VRE Upgrades at Alexandria Train Station Bring Weekend Closures, Long-Term Gains

ALEXANDRIA, VA — If you drive through the King Street corridor, expect a bit of a shake-up this weekend—and more activity in the weeks ahead.

In a recent social media video, Mayor Alyia Gaskins gave residents a heads-up that construction is ramping up around the Alexandria train station as part of a major Virginia Railway Express (VRE) improvement project.

“This is a significant investment in our infrastructure,” Gaskins said. “It’s about improving safety, reliability, and the overall experience for everyone who depends on this station.”

The first big change comes May 1–4, when King Street will be fully closed between Russell Road and Daingerfield Road from Friday at 7 p.m. through Monday at 10 p.m. Crews will install temporary bridge structures—called “jump spans”—over active rail lines.

For drivers, that means detours and a little patience. Traffic will be routed to Duke Street, while Commonwealth Avenue will remain open but reduced to a single alternating lane, with flaggers on site to direct traffic and improve flow. Sunset Drive will be limited to local traffic, and pedestrian access beneath the King Street bridge will be closed, with posted detours.

“We know this will mean some temporary disruptions, especially over these weekends,” Gaskins said in the video, “but this is critical work to modernize one of the most important transportation hubs in our city.”

This is the first of three major construction weekends planned in May.

Behind the scenes, the work includes replacing the aging rail bridges over King Street and Commonwealth Avenue, bringing them up to modern safety standards and making it safer for everyone who travels through the corridor. The broader project will also replace rail infrastructure that is more than a century old and upgrade the station area used by both VRE and Amtrak riders.

“These improvements are about making sure Alexandria is ready for the future of rail,” Gaskins said. “When this is complete, riders will see a real difference.”

The Alexandria station is one of the busiest in the VRE system, serving as a key connection point for commuters heading into Washington, D.C., and beyond. City leaders say the upgrades will help reduce maintenance issues and create a smoother, safer experience for passengers and drivers alike.

In the meantime, officials are urging residents to allow extra travel time near the station, and follow posted detours.

For updates on construction, service changes, and travel impacts, visit the Virginia Railway Express website at VRE Service Alerts or check real-time conditions at Train Status. Riders can also sign up for email or text alerts through VRE’s alert system to receive the latest information before heading out.

About Alexandria’s Union Station

Built in 1905 at a cost of just over $62,000, Alexandria’s Union Station was designed to bring multiple rail lines together under one roof—hence the name “Union.” The station’s Colonial Revival architecture reflects a more understated, functional style than larger city terminals, while still serving as a welcoming gateway to Alexandria.

Located at 110 Callahan Drive in Old Town, the station remains a key transportation hub, connecting Amtrak intercity service with Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail. Its proximity to the King Street Metro station also makes it one of the region’s most convenient multimodal transit points.

Today, the station serves thousands of riders traveling throughout the Northeast Corridor and across Virginia. For example, a typical Amtrak trip from Alexandria to Richmond takes about two to two-and-a-half hours, with round-trip fares often ranging from $30 to $80 depending on timing and availability.