
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991                   TAG: 9103310197
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

RAILWAY EXPRESS LIKELY TO GET LATE START

Despite various problems the Virginia Railway Express is having getting started, the VRE Operations Board hopes trains from Fredericksburg and Manassas to Washington can start up this fall.

The long-awaited commuter rail project has ridden on rough tracks so far. First, the cost of designing and building commuter rail stations is higher than expected. Second, officials face a series of problems getting either new or used passenger cars.

The cost of building 12 commuter rail stations has climbed to $6.6 million, about $2 million more than anticipated.

The VRE will be able to cover its costs by tapping various funds and grants, said Rail Manager Thomas Waldron. But localities will be asked to use their revenues from their 2 percent gas tax to complete their stations.

Mitsui, the Japanese company manufacturing 28 cars for the Virginia system at its plant in Brazil, said it is behind schedule and wants more time, VRE officials said.

Waldron said the company wants a two-month delay on first shipment of four cars and 10 weeks with subsequent deliveries.

by CNB