Washington DC Metrorail

Description

The Washington Metrorail system is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which also operates a network of buses. Metrorail consists of five lines (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Blue), extends into the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia, and is 106.1 miles in length. The first section opened in 1976. The system as originally envisioned is now complete, with the extension of the Green Line from Anacostia to Branch Avenue in early 2001. A further eastward extension of the Blue Line to Largo Town Center in Maryland opened in December 2004. Planning is underway for a branch running from the Orange Line to Tysons Corners in Virginia, and eventually to Dulles National Airport.

System map by Michael Calcagno, at New York City Subway Resources
The front and back of a farecard (March 1999).
The front and back of a one-day pass (March 1999).
The front and back of a farecard (March 2004).

Pictures

Underground Stations

As befits the nation's capital, the underground Metrorail stations have a monumental appearance. They all share the same basic design concept: a large barrel-shaped vault, with a concrete liner that looks as if it were produced with a waffle iron.

[picture] Archives-Navy Memorial is a typical center-platform station. (March 1998)

[picture] Crystal City is a typical side-platform station. The lights between the tracks create interesting shadow effects when a train passes through the station. (March 1998)

[picture] The Pentagon station has an interesting split-level layout, with the two tracks on different levels in the same vault. This allows the Blue and Yellow lines to separate just north of the station, without any level track crossings. Here we see a train on the lower level, with the upper level overhanging it and the vault roof arching over both levels. (March 1998)

[picture] Here is a train on the upper level of the Pentagon station, in a view which also looks down onto the lower level. (March 1998)

[picture] L'Enfant Plaza is the junction of the Yellow/Green Lines and the Blue/Orange Lines. The two vaults intersect in a cross-shaped pattern. Here we see a Green Line train on the upper level. (March 1998)

[picture] Again at L'Enfant Plaza, looking along the crosswise mezzanine from a vantage point to the right of the previous picture. The Blue/Orange Line tracks run below. (March 1998)

Green Line to Maryland

[picture] At Fort Totten, the Green Line emerges above ground briefly and crosses underneath the Red Line. Here, a southbound train arrives on the Green Line platform, with a southbound Red Line train visible above. (March 2000)

[picture] A southbound Green Line train leaves the Prince Georges Plaza station. The tracks are underground both before and after the station; one end of the station is covered by a mezzanine and parking structure, while the other end is an open cut. (March 1999)

[picture] The interior of the "covered" section of the Prince Georges Plaza station. (March 1999)

[picture] A train waits at the Greenbelt station, the northern terminal of the Green Line, before beginning its next southbound trip. This view is from the southbound platform of the adjacent MARC commuter rail station, whose northbound platform and tracks are also visible. (March 1999)

Blue and Yellow Lines to Alexandria and Beyond

[picture] A northbound Yellow Line train crosses the Potomac River. (March 1999)

[picture] A northbound Yellow Line train descends towards the subway portal in Potomac Park, just after crossing the river. (March 1999)

[picture] The Blue and Yellow Lines serve Reagan National Airport at a station located close to the terminal building. (March 2000)

[picture] The King Street station in Alexandria is elevated, with bus bays and a parking lot in front. A snowstorm has just dumped a footof snow. (March 1999)

[picture] On the platform at King Street, passengers watch a Blue Line train arrive. (March 1999)

[picture] The south end of the Yellow Line crosses the Cameron Run valley on an elevated structure, and ends at the Huntington station on the south side of the valley. This view is from the top of the parking structure at Huntington, looking north across the valley with the roof of the station below. In the distance you can just make out the Eisenhower Avenue station. (March 2000)

[picture] On the platform at Huntington, looking towards the south end of the station. The tracks tunnel into the hillside for a short distance. (March 2000)

[picture] Franconia-Springfield is the southwestern terminus of the Blue Line. Here is a view from the end of the platform looking back towards the station building. On the left is a pedestrian bridge to the adjacent Virginia Rail Express station, and on the right is another pedestrian bridge, a large parking garage and lot, and bus platforms. (March 2000)

[picture] Interior of the Franconia-Springfield station, looking back towards the vantage point of the preceding picture. (March 2000)

[picture] The entrance hall of the Franconia-Springfield station, with farecard machines, attendant's booth and turnstiles. (March 2000)

[picture] The interior of a Metrorail car. (March 2000)

Blue and Orange Lines in Virginia

[picture] A southbound Blue Line train enters the Arlington Cemetery station, with the towers of Rosslyn in the background. (March 1999)

[picture] An eastbound Orange Line train leaves the terminal at Vienna, in the median of the I-66 expressway. (March 1998)

Red Line in Maryland

[picture] A train poses in a freak March snowstorm at Grosvenor station, on the northwest leg of the Red Line. Some trains terminate here instead of going all the way to the end of the line at Shady Grove. (March 1999)

Blue Line in Maryland

[picture] An exterior view of the Addison Road station and beyond it, the eastern end of track on the Blue Line. After this picture was taken, the Blue Line was extended beyond this point, to Largo Town Center. (March 2000)

Washington, DC: Metrorail