Backlick Road station
Backlick Road | |||||||||||
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Station shelter in 2020 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 6900 Hechinger Drive Springfield, Virginia United States | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 38°47′49″N 77°11′02″W / 38.79694°N 77.18389°W | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | NS Washington District | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Connections | Fairfax Connector: 321, 322, 401, 402 Metrobus: 18J | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | 220 spaces | ||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Bicycle racks | ||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Fare zone | 3 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1992[1] | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Backlick Road station is a Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail station in Springfield, Virginia. It is served by the Manassas Line. The station has one side platform serving the southern track of the two-track Norfolk Southern Railway Washington District.
History
The station serves a right-of-way first laid down in the 1840s by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad (O&A). During the American Civil War, the O&A's Springfield station, which stood on or near the site of today's facility, was briefly seized by Confederate troops in 1861, recaptured by Union troops, and raided again the following year.[2]
The right-of-way passed via successor railroads to its current owner, Norfolk Southern.[2] Additional trackage rights are held by VRE and Amtrak, whose Cardinal and Crescent trains pass through Backlick Road station but do not stop there.
The current station opened in 1992 as one of the original VRE stations.[2] Planned upgrades include a 290-foot platform extension, lighting improvements, and communication system upgrades to accommodate longer trains and improve rider safety and comfort.[3]
References
- ^ Fehr, Stephen; Sanchez, Carlos (June 18, 1992). "Getting On Track". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c Peniston, Bradley. "Springfield's Rail History". VRE.org. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Backlick Road Station Improvements" (PDF). Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. July 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2025.