Virginia Railway Express Train (photo cc flickr sagansapien)

(Washington, DC  -- Matt McClesky, WAMU) Fares are going up on Virginia Railway Express. VRE Passengers will soon see a 3 percent fare increase, after the railway's operations board approved a fare hike that will take effect July 1. A minimum one-way ticket will go from $2.90 to $3, and the maximum one-way ticket will rise from $10.30 to $10.65.

The increase is expected to generate about $900,000 in additional revenue next year, according to the Associated Press. That money will be used to pay for rising fuel costs and increased payments to Keolis, VRE's primary contractor, which runs the day-to-day operation of the railway.

VRE carries 16,000 commuters on average each weekday from the Northern Virginia suburbs to Alexandria, Crystal City and downtown Washington along the I-66 and I-95 corridors.

The last time VRE raised fares was in 2009.