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 | NS Washington District | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Connections | |||||||||||
| 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.[citation needed]
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.
