Virginia Railway Express CEO retiring Oct. 3, leaves legacy of safety

Virginia Railway Express CEO Rich Dalton will retire from the commuter rail service in the fall, the operations board announced on Friday.

Dalton’s retirement will go into effect on Oct. 3. Board members will be responsible for creating a search and selection committee for his replacement.

“It’s time. It may not ever be a good time, but it’s time,” said Dalton briefly on Friday.

Dalton led the system through its planning process for the 2050 System Plan and Vision. The plan aims to assist officials in responding to evolving travel patterns, particularly those of commuting office workers, which have changed significantly over the past decade.

According to VRE, the recently adopted plan aims to transform rail in Virginia by shifting VRE from a “commuter-focused rail service to a more regional operation with the eventual addition of bi-directional and weekend service, responding to shifting passenger needs and bolstering economic growth throughout Northern Virginia and surrounding jurisdictions.” 

VRE connects Central and Northern Virginia with the District of Columbia. The system’s two lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg, serve 19 stations, including two – L’Enfant and Union Station – in D.C.

Dalton’s long-standing involvement with VRE goes back to 1992, when he worked with local automotive manufacturer Morrison-Knudsen, now known as Wabtec, since the commuter rail service launched its first trains.

Dalton joined the system as chief operating officer in 2009 before stepping in as interim in 2019 and then permanent CEO in 2020. During his tenure, he managed multiple projects to develop the system and its resilience amid changes including ridership.

Under his tenure, the system also navigated through periods of instability, including the pandemic, which continues to impact ridership and budgets across the region. VRE said the system “maintained high rider satisfaction with no substantial impacts to operations during the pandemic.”

The projects he helped lead included implementing technology to automatically prevent train accidents caused by human error, extending VRE service to Spotsylvania County in 2015 and maintenance plans to minimize costs.

“If nothing else, Rich’s legacy would be a legacy of safety,” said board chair Sarah Bagley on Friday. “I think that’s a legacy we’re very proud of, is the role that you have placed in making sure everybody is as safe as they can be with your organization.”