Today in Metro History...

On this day, 50 years ago in 1976… The Washington Metro opened for service! The 4.6 mile Red Line segment included Farragut North, Metro Center, Judiciary Sq, Union Station, & Rhode Island Ave.

On this day, 12 years ago in 2014... In order to accommodate the Veterans Day Concert for Valor, WMATA ran a special service with an unofficial 'Pink Line' from Arlington Cemetery to National Airport.

On this day, 52 years ago in 1974... The Choral Arts Society of Washington performed in the still-under-construction Metro Center station to test the acoustics of Metro's unique vaulted ceilings.

On this day, 2 years ago in 2024... The 2000-Series railcar's retirement run, known as the '2K Last Ride', took place on the Green Line.

On this day, 20 years ago in 2006... The Alstom 6000-Series railcars first entered service!

On this day, 36 years ago in 1990... The Red Line extension to Wheaton opened! Extending from Silver Spring, the 3.2 new miles of track included Forest Glen & Wheaton.

On this day, 11 years ago in 2015... The Silver Spring Transit Center opened adjacent to the Metrorail & MARC Stations. It serves over 30 bus services from Metrobus, RideOn, & Shuttle-UM, with a future connection to the MTA Purple Line.

On this day, 27 years ago in 1999... The Green Line extension between U Street & Fort Totten opened! Connecting the upper & lower sections of the line, the 2.9 new miles of track included Columbia Heights & Georgia Ave. This marked the end of the Green Line Commuter Shortcut.

On this day, 58 years ago in 1968... President Lyndon B. Johnson toured the first mockup Metrorail car on the White House lawn.

On this day, 4 years ago in 2022... The Yellow Line was closed for seven months for major construction work over the Yellow Line bridge.

On this day, 21 years ago in 2005... WMATA received the first 6000-Series railcar from Alstom.

On this day, 42 years ago in 1984... The Red Line extension to Grosvenor-Strathmore opened! Extending from Van Ness-UDC, the 7.0 new miles of track included Tenleytown-AU, Friendship Heights, Bethesda, Medical Center, & Grosvenor-Strathmore.

On this day, 25 years ago in 2001... The CAF 5000-Series railcars first entered service on the Green Line.

On this day, 12 years ago in 2014... The Silver Line began service, running from Wiehle-Reston East to Largo Town Center! Extending from East Falls Church, the 11.6 new miles of track included McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East.

On this day, 28 years ago in 1998... The Red Line extension to Glenmont opened! Extending from Wheaton, the 1.4 new miles of track included only Glenmont, the final Metro Station opened in Montgomery County.

On this day, 14 years ago in 2012... Rush Plus services were created, adding 3 additional service patterns during rush hour: Yellow Line to Franconia-Springfield, Yellow Line to Greenbelt, and Orange Line to Largo Town Center.

On this day, 49 years ago in 1977... The Blue Line began service, running from Stadium-Armory to National Airport! The 11.8 new miles of track included 17 new stations through downtown DC and extending into Arlington.

On this day, 9 years ago in 2017... All 1000-Series and 4000-Series railcars were retired from passenger service, following 41 and 26 years of service respectively.

On this day, 29 years ago in 1997... The Blue Line extension to Franconia-Springfield opened! Extending from Van Dorn St, the 3.3 new miles of track included only Franconia-Springfield.

On this day, 34 years ago in 1992… Virginia Railway Express (VRE) began operations with multiple direct station connections to Metrorail.

On this day, 39 years ago in 1987… A CSX freight train derailed near Takoma Station causing damage to the Metrorail tracks and closing the Red Line north of Fort Totten for 4 days.