{{Short description|Washington Metro rapid transit line}} {{Use American English|date=April 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{redirect|Red Line (Maryland)|the proposed light rail line in Baltimore|Red Line (Baltimore)|other uses|Red Line}} {{Infobox rail line | name = Red Line | logo = WMATA Red New.svg | color = {{rcr|Washington Metro|R}} | image = WMATA 7000-series train at Judiciary Square.jpg | image_width = 300 | caption = Red Line train arriving at {{wmata|Judiciary Square}} in June 2023 | type = Rapid transit | system = Washington Metro | status = Operating | locale = Montgomery County<br /> Washington, D.C. | start = {{wmata|Shady Grove}} | end = {{wmata|Glenmont}} | stations = 27 | daily_ridership = | open = {{start date|1976|03|27}} | close = | owner = | operator = Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | character = At-grade, underground, and elevated | stock = 3000-series, 6000-series, 7000-series | linelength = {{convert|31.9|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} | tracklength = | tracks = 2 | gauge = {{Track gauge|4 ft 8 1/4 in|lk=on}} | electrification = {{750 V DC|conductor=third rail}} | speed = | elevation = | map = {{switcher | {{maplink-road|from=Red Line (Washington Metro).map}} Red Line highlighted in red <hr/ > | Show interactive map | {{Red Line (Washington Metro)|inline=yes}} | Show route diagram }} }} right|thumb|upright=1.1|Washington Metro system map The '''Red Line''' is a rapid transit line of the Washington Metro system, consisting of 27 stations in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., in the United States. It is a primary line through downtown Washington and the oldest and busiest line in the system. It forms a long, narrow "U," capped by its terminal stations at Shady Grove and Glenmont.

Trains run every 4–5 minutes during weekday rush hours, every 6 minutes during weekday off-peak hours and weekends, and every 10 minutes daily after 9:30pm.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/|title=Timetables |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) |access-date=2024-10-06|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124195701/https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Red Line is the only line in the system that does not share its tracks with another Metrorail line. However, it operates parallel to CSX Transportation freight trains along the railroad's Metropolitan Subdivision from the D.C. neighborhood of Brentwood north past Silver Spring, Maryland, and from Twinbrook to its terminus at Shady Grove.

== History == === Planning and construction === Planning for Metro began with the Mass Transportation Survey in 1955, which attempted to forecast freeway and mass transit systems sufficient to meet the needs of 1980.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=33-38}} In 1959, the study's final report recommended two rapid transit lines which anticipated subways in downtown Washington.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=39}} Because the plan called for extensive freeway construction within the District of Columbia, alarmed residents lobbied for federal legislation creating a moratorium on freeway construction through July 1, 1962.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=42}} The National Capital Transportation Agency's 1962 report, ''Transportation in the National Capital Region,'' anticipated much of the present Red Line route, with the Red Line following the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) right-of-way between Silver Spring and Rockville instead of a direct route between Bethesda and Rockville.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=55}}

With the formation of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in October 1966,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/board/upload/Compact_Annotated_2009_final.pdf |title=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact |date=August 2009 |website=WMATA |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328041051/https://www.wmata.com/about/board/upload/Compact_Annotated_2009_final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=D.C. Area Transit Compact Approved |date=October 14, 1966 |work=The Baltimore Sun |page=A10 |id={{ProQuest|539537151}}}}</ref> planning of the system shifted from federal hands to a regional body with representatives of the District, Maryland, and Virginia. Congressional route approval was no longer a key consideration.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=104}} Instead, routes had to serve each suburban jurisdiction to assure that they would approve bond referendums to finance the system.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=108}} Because the least expensive way to build into the suburbs was to use existing railroad right-of-ways, the Red Line took much of its present form, except that it continued to feature a further link between its two stems along the B&O right-of-way.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=110}} An early proposal from 1967 was more extensive then what was ultimately approved, with the Red Line's western terminus being in Germantown instead of Shady Grove.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://architectofthecapital.org/posts/2016/6/18/wmata-metro-proposal-1967 |title=WMATA's Metro Proposal from 1967 |date=June 19, 2016 |access-date=February 16, 2024 | archive-date=December 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214052705/https://architectofthecapital.org/posts/2016/6/18/wmata-metro-proposal-1967 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By 1969, WMATA had decided on the current routing and stations, except for the extension beyond Rockville to Shady Grove.<ref>{{Cite book |author=U.S. House of Representatives, Ninety-first Congress, first session |title=Financing Subway System for National Capital Region: Joint Hearings Before the Committee on the District of Columbia and the Subcommittee No. 4 of the Committee on the District of Columbia |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/79602594/ |year=1969 |page=129}}</ref> Montgomery County officials opposed ending the Red Line in downtown Rockville, saying it would cause congestion in the area and use scarce vacant land for a storage yard.<ref name="eisen">{{Cite news |title=Rockville and Greenbelt Lines Are Funded by U.S. for Metro |last=Eisen |first=Jack |date=July 27, 1975 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=9 |id={{ProQuest|146254407}}}}</ref> Metro proposed extending the Red Line with one more station at Shady Grove. The U.S. Department of Transportation conditionally approved funding for the extension on July 26, 1975.<ref name="eisen" />

Construction on the Red Line began with a groundbreaking ceremony at Judiciary Square on December 9, 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/history.pdf |title=WMATA History |publisher=WMATA |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701214349/https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/history.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Construction proved difficult because the National Park Service (NPS) prohibited the construction of a bridge across Rock Creek. NPS required WMATA to build a Red Line tunnel under the creek valley. The tunnel, in turn, caused both the Dupont Circle and Woodley Park stations to be built further underground.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=151}} WMATA proposed tunneling under Yuma Street from Connecticut Avenue to Wisconsin Avenue, but local residents sued. The litigation delayed construction of the tunnel for two years, and WMATA finally won the right to build the tunnel as proposed.{{sfnp|Schrag|2006|p=160}}

=== Operation and extension === Service on the Red Line (and the Metro as a whole) began on March 27, 1976, with operation between Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZcEdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5111,3587784&dq=open+washington+metro&hl=en |title=First section of new subway system opens |last=Rosenthal |first=Harry |date=March 26, 1976 |work=Daily News |access-date=December 11, 2010 |page=14}}</ref><ref name="openings">{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/Metro-Facts-2017-FINAL.pdf |title=Sequence of Metrorail openings |year=2017 |publisher=WMATA |page=3 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180702201723/https://www.wmata.com/about/upload/Metro-Facts-2017-FINAL.pdf |archive-date= July 2, 2018 }}</ref> Gallery Place's opening was delayed due to a court order regarding lack of accessibility for all, but it opened in the middle of the line on December 15, 1976.<ref name="openings"/> The western end of the line was extended one station to Dupont Circle on January 17, 1977, three stations to Van Ness–UDC on December 5, 1981, five stations to Grosvenor–Strathmore on August 25, 1984, and four stations to Shady Grove on December 15, 1984.<ref name="openings"/> The eastern end was extended four stations from Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood to Silver Spring on February 6, 1978—which added Maryland to the system for the first time—two stations to Wheaton on September 22, 1990, and one station to Glenmont on July 25, 1998, completing the line.<ref name="openings"/>

The only time the Red Line shared tracks with another line was from January 27, 1997, to September 17, 1999, when the Green Line Commuter Shortcut used Red Line tracks from Brookland–CUA to Farragut North. A short time after the Green Line branch north of Fort Totten opened in the early 1990s, the "Green Line Commuter Shortcut" began as a six-month experiment. Passengers could board the Green Line between Greenbelt and West Hyattsville and travel as far as Farragut North without having to transfer; the trains bypassed Fort Totten via a single-track spur between the West Hyattsville and Brookland–CUA stations. Due to its success, the shortcut continued until the mid-city portion of the Green Line was completed in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/lunchtalk_online_chats/transcript.cfm?ChatID=184 |title=Metro – Community Outreach – Lunchtalk Online Chat |date=March 6, 2009 |publisher=WMATA |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726101839/http://www.wmata.com/community_outreach/lunchtalk_online_chats/transcript.cfm?ChatID=184 |archive-date=July 26, 2012 }}</ref>

The NoMa–Gallaudet University station (formerly New York Ave–Florida Ave–Gallaudet University), located between Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood, opened on November 20, 2004. It was the system's first infill station (i.e., a new station built between existing stations).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3182 |title=Metro's New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metrorail station opens today on the Red Line |date=November 20, 2004 |publisher=WMATA |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328165414/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=3182 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2010, the WMATA authorized $37&nbsp;million in capital improvements on the Red Line, a part of $212&nbsp;million of work on the Red Line scheduled for 2010 to 2014.<ref name="Overhaul of the Red Line continues">{{Cite web |url=http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4747 |title=Overhaul of the Red Line continues |date=November 18, 2010 |publisher=WMATA |access-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419205806/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4747 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2012, a 1,200-car parking garage opened at the Glenmont station, joining the existing 1,700-car garage. Construction on the project, funded by the state of Maryland, began in December 2009.<ref name="Reed">{{Cite web |url=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14580/can-a-parking-deck-be-green-new-glenmont-garage-isnt/ |title=Can a parking deck be "green"? New Glenmont garage isn't |last=Reed |first=Dan |date=April 26, 2012 |website=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230924/http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14580/can-a-parking-deck-be-green-new-glenmont-garage-isnt/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Parcher">{{Cite news |url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/11112009/wheanew192833_32522.shtml |title=Metro unveils design for Glenmont parking garage |last=Parcher |first=Amber |date=November 11, 2009 |work=Montgomery County Gazette |access-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060155/http://www.gazette.net/stories/11112009/wheanew192833_32522.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From March 26, 2020, until June 28, 2020, trains were bypassing {{wmata|Grosvenor–Strathmore}}, {{wmata|Cleveland Park}}, and {{wmata|Judiciary Square}} stations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=covidmap>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/upload/2019-System-Map-COVID-19-stations-FINAL.pdf |title=Special Covid-19 System Map |publisher=WMATA |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327192846/https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/upload/2019-System-Map-COVID-19-stations-FINAL.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=covidservice>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/covid-station-closures.cfm |title=Metrorail stations closed due to COVID-19 pandemic |date=March 23, 2020 |publisher=WMATA |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409010106/https://www.wmata.com/service/status/details/covid-station-closures.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref> All stations were reopened beginning on June 28, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Metro to reopen 15 stations, reallocate bus service to address crowding, starting Sunday |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-to-reopen-15-stations-reallocate-bus-service.cfm |publisher=WMATA |access-date=22 June 2020 |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217080714/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-to-reopen-15-stations-reallocate-bus-service.cfm |url-status=live}}</ref>

From September 11, 2021,<ref>{{cite web | last=George | first=Justin | title=Metro to reopen Shady Grove and Rockville stations next month |website=The Washington Post |date=December 8, 2021 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/12/08/metro-reopen-shady-grove-rockville/ | access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shahzad |first=Maryam |title=Shady Grove, Rockville Metro Stations Will Close Sept. 11-Dec. 4 |website=Montgomery Community Media |date=September 7, 2021 |url=https://www.mymcmedia.org/shady-grove-rockville-metro-stations-will-close-sept-11-dec-4/ | access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref> to January 16, 2022, the Rockville and Shady Grove Metro stations were closed due to the Rockville Canopy Replacement Project.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sarralde | first=Andrea | title=Metro Welcomes Back Riders to Shady Grove, Rockville Stations |website=Montgomery Community Media |date=January 19, 2022 |url=https://www.mymcmedia.org/metro-welcomes-back-riders-to-shady-grove-rockville-stations/ | access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Pusatory |title=Shady Grove, Rockville Metro stations reopen Sunday |website=WUSA 9 News | date=January 12, 2022 |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/shady-grove-and-rockville-metro-stations-reopen-jan-16/65-9908ba70-5233-4c58-b28e-6fb1d136a6f2 | access-date=May 21, 2025 | archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024121946/https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/shady-grove-and-rockville-metro-stations-reopen-jan-16/65-9908ba70-5233-4c58-b28e-6fb1d136a6f2 | url-status=live }}</ref> On February 25, 2022, WMATA opened a new entrance on the east side of Rockville Pike and a new elevator and staircase to the platforms at the Medical Center station, eliminating the need for thousands of daily riders who emerge from the station on the west side of the Pike to cross the busy six-lane road to reach the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.gazette.net/article/20130215/NEWS/130219297/1070/new-entrance-pedestrian-tunnel-planned-for-medical-center-metro&template=gazette |title=New entrance, pedestrian tunnel planned for Medical Center Metro |last=Waibel |first=Elizabeth |date=February 13, 2013 |work=Montgomery County Gazette |access-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107233019/http://www.gazette.net/article/20130215/NEWS/130219297/1070/new-entrance-pedestrian-tunnel-planned-for-medical-center-metro%26template%3Dgazette |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2009, Montgomery County applied for a $20&nbsp;million federal grant, seeking to begin construction in 2011,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/09162009/montnew170358_32544.shtml |title=County proposes underpass for Medical Center Metro station |last=Ujifusa |first=Andrew |date=September 16, 2009 |work=Montgomery County Gazette |access-date=December 10, 2010 |archive-date=April 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401173013/http://www.gazette.net/stories/09162009/montnew170358_32544.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> but the project was not approved until 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/brac/projects/metro_mc.html |title=Medical Center Metro Crossing Project |publisher=Montgomery County Government |access-date=February 11, 2018}}</ref> Construction began in December 2017. The $68&nbsp;million project, mostly funded by the Department of Defense, also includes new deep elevators, better surface bicycle, and pedestrian facilities, a pedestrian tunnel under Rockville Pike, and an extension of the left-turn lane on southbound MD 355 that opened in late 2021.

On June 1, 2024, stations north of Fort Totten were closed due to repairs and the construction of the new mezzanine at Silver Spring station that will connect to the Purple Line. Takoma was reopened on June 28,<ref>{{cite web |last=More |first=Maggie |title=Takoma Metro station to reopen 2 days early |website=NBC4 Washington News |date=June 27, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/takoma-metro-station-to-reopen-2-days-early/3651194/ |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref> while the others reopened on September 1.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rosenthal | first=Sophie |title=Red Line stations reopen after months of construction |website=WUSA 9 News |date=September 2, 2024 |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/mission-metro/red-line-stations-reopen-after-months-of-construction/65-f044da48-b925-4fbd-9c6f-61bc234c6a4f |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tuss |first=Adam |title=4 Red Line Metro stations reopen after summer construction |website=NBC4 Washington News |date=September 1, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/4-red-line-metro-stations-reopen-after-summer-construction/3707197/ |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref> Automatic train operation, which had ceased systemwide following the 2009 train collision, was allowed to resume on the Red Line in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |author-last1=Lassen |author-first1=David |title=DC Metrorail gets approval to restore automated operation |website=Trains |publisher=Firecrown Media |date=December 11, 2024 | url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/dc-metrorail-gets-approval-to-restore-automated-operation/ |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Roussey |first=Tom |title=Metro receives approval to use automation on the Red Line and to run at faster speeds |website=WJLA TV News |date=December 11, 2024 |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/metro-automation-approval-washington-metrorail-safety-commission-congress-automatic-train-operation-ato-autopilot-chris-hart-train-speed-doors-open-close-red-line-washington-dc-dmv-transportation | access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref> In the months that followed, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission prevented the implementation of ATO on other lines because a small number of automated Red Line trains reportedly overshot the station platforms.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tuss |first=Adam |title=Metro safety watchdog raises concerns about near collision and station overruns |website=NBC4 Washington News |date=April 8, 2025 |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/metro-safety-watchdog-near-collision-ato-automatic-train-operations/3887158/ |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=David |title=Washington Metrorail Safety Commission raises concerns about automated trains, overruns |publisher=FOX 5 DC News |date=April 8, 2025 | url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/washington-metrorail-safety-commission-raises-concerns-about-automated-trains-overruns |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref>

On April 23, 2026, Metro's Board of Directors unanimously approved a $913 million "Red Line Modernization Plan". The plan called for full Red Line automation without human operators, the installation of platform screen doors at 20 of the 27 Red Line stations, and a new signaling system for the line. While similar upgrades were considered for other lines, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke stated that the Red Line was chosen first because of the age of its signaling equipment and its lack of interlining. Metro tentatively projected that the plan may be complete by 2032 or 2033.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=John |last2=Roussey |first2=Tom |title=Metro board greenlights moving forward with Red Line train automation, platform doors |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/metro-red-line-train-automation-vote-driverless-trains-platform-screen-doorswmata-washington-dc-transit-public-transportation-safety-infrastructure-upgrades-commuter-dmv |website=WJLA TV News |access-date=April 23, 2026 |date=April 23, 2026 |archive-date=April 29, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260429212153/https://wjla.com/news/local/metro-red-line-train-automation-vote-driverless-trains-platform-screen-doorswmata-washington-dc-transit-public-transportation-safety-infrastructure-upgrades-commuter-dmv |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Incidents and accidents==

=== 2004 Woodley Park accident === [[File:NTSB-Woodley-Park-Accident.png|thumb|alt=A badly damaged subway car sticks up at an angle where it had partially ridden over another car in an underground station.|Accident at the Woodley Park station on November 3, 2004]] On November 3, 2004, an out-of-service Red Line train rolled backward into the Woodley Park station and hit an in-service train stopped at the platform. Twenty people were injured.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22466-2004Nov3.html |title=20 Injured in Crash of 2 Red Line Trains |last1=Layton |first1=Lyndsey |date=2004-11-04 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2009-01-27 |last2=Steven Ginsberg |pages=A01 |archive-date=May 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512010822/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22466-2004Nov3.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A 14-month investigation concluded that the train operator was most likely not alert. Safety officials estimated that at least 79 would have died had the train been full. The train operator was fired and Metro officials agreed to add rollback protection to more than 300 rail cars.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/23/AR2006032300974.html |title=Dozing Operator Blamed in Rail Accident |last=Sun |first=Lena H. |date=March 23, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A01 |archive-date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134427/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/23/AR2006032300974.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2009 train collision === thumb|June 2009 Metro collision scene {{Main|June 2009 Washington Metro train collision}} On June 22, 2009, at 5:03&nbsp;p.m., a six-car train collided with and telescoped onto a stationary train between the Takoma and Fort Totten Metro stations. Eight passengers and a train operator were killed in the collision and at least 70 people were injured. It is the deadliest accident in the history of the Washington Metro.<ref name="Saslow">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702417.html?sid=ST2009062702498 |title=Three Minutes to Fort Totten |last=Saslow |first=Eli |date=June 28, 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 30, 2009 |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160450/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702417.html?sid=ST2009062702498 |url-status=live }}</ref> The National Transportation Safety Board's report of July 27, 2010, blamed the crash on a faulty track circuit, part of the automatic train control system.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-27/fatal-washington-metro-crash-shows-need-for-u-s-transit-rules-ntsb-says.html |title=Fatal Washington Metro Crash Shows Need for U.S. Transit Rules, NTSB Says |date=July 27, 2010 |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=July 28, 2010 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103053841/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-27/fatal-washington-metro-crash-shows-need-for-u-s-transit-rules-ntsb-says.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/RAB1204.aspx |title=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Rear-end collision: Accident Report Detail |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |location=Washington, D.C. |date=May 17, 2012 |access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> WMATA issued a list of planned changes.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4579 |title=Metro demonstrates safety commitment, compliance with NTSB recommendations, including replacement of 1000 series rail cars |publisher=WMATA |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>

=== Chronology === Dates on which portions of the Red Line opened for service.<ref name="openings" /> {| class="wikitable" !Date !Event !Total number of stations !Total line length |- | March 29, 1976 | Line opens between {{wmata|Farragut North}} and {{wmata|Rhode Island Avenue}} |align=right| 5 |align=right| {{convert|4.6|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | December 15, 1976 | {{wmata|Gallery Place}} opens between existing stations |align=right| 6 |align=right| {{convert|4.6|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | January 17, 1977 | Extension to {{wmata|Dupont Circle}} opens |align=right| 7 |align=right| {{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | February 4, 1978 | Extension to {{wmata|Silver Spring}} opens |align=right| 11 |align=right| {{convert|11.4|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | December 5, 1981 | Extension to {{wmata|Van Ness-UDC}} opens |align=right| 14 |align=right| {{convert|13.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | August 25, 1984 | Extension to {{wmata|Grosvenor-Strathmore}} opens |align=right| 19 |align=right| {{convert|20.3|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | December 15, 1984 | Extension to {{wmata|Shady Grove}} opens |align=right| 23 |align=right| {{convert|27.3|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | September 22, 1990 | Extension to {{wmata|Wheaton}} opens |align=right| 25 |align=right| {{convert|30.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | July 25, 1998 | Extension to {{wmata|Glenmont}} opens |align=right| 26 |align=right| {{convert|31.9|mi|km|abbr=on}} |- | November 20, 2004 | {{wmata|NoMa–Gallaudet U}} opens between existing stations |align=right| 27 |align=right| {{convert|31.9|mi|km|abbr=on}} |}

==Route== [[File:Farragut North DC Metro td (2018-04-27) 04.jpg|thumb|right|A Shady Grove-bound Red Line train leaving Farragut North in April 2018.]] The Red Line begins above ground at Shady Grove, and parallels CSX Transportation's Metropolitan Subdivision (served by MARC Brunswick Line trains) to south of Twinbrook. The route then enters a tunnel and curves west to run under Rockville Pike at North Bethesda. Until Tenleytown, the line follows the route of Rockville Pike and Wisconsin Avenue in a tunnel, except for a bridge over the Capital Beltway (I-495). The tunnel curves east at Tenleytown into Yuma Street to reach the Van Ness–UDC station, curving south there to travel under Connecticut Avenue through south of Farragut Square. A curve under Lafayette Park takes the tunnel east under G Street Northwest through the Metro Center and Gallery Place stations.<ref name="eis">{{Citation |title=Metro Draft Environmental Statement |date=February 1973 |publisher=WMATA}}</ref>{{rp|178}}

From Gallery Place through Judiciary Square, the line runs southeast, turning east again at D Street to reach Union Station. There it turns north and surfaces next to Union Station's platforms, follows the Washington Terminal yard tracks north to Brentwood where the line turns northwestward and again joins CSX Transportation's Metropolitan Subdivision tracks, running in a unique gauntlet track arrangement, with the freight railroad tracks straddling the Metro tracks. The Red Line continues in this manner northwest across the DC-Maryland line, through Takoma and past Silver Spring. It reenters a tunnel at 16th Street and heads north under Georgia Avenue to the end at Glenmont.<ref name="eis" />{{rp|188}}

The Metropolitan Subdivision right-of-way was part of the former B&O route to downtown Washington, D.C. The MARC commuter rail system uses this parallel route with stops in Silver Spring and Rockville when traveling between Washington and Martinsburg, West Virginia, while Amtrak uses this parallel route with a stop in Rockville when traveling the {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}} route between Miami and Chicago.

There is a maintenance yard between the NoMa–Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue–Brentwood stops along with facilities just outside Shady Grove and Glenmont stops as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/WMATA_Red_Line|title=WMATA Red Line|website=nycsubway.org|access-date=March 28, 2018|archive-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032334/https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/WMATA_Red_Line|url-status=live}}</ref>

Internally, WMATA calls the Red Line the '''Shady Grove Route''' (A) and the '''Glenmont Route''' (B), which meet at Metro Center.<ref name="eis" />

The Red Line needs 44 trains (10 eight-car trains and 34 six-car trains, consisting of 284 rail cars) to run at peak capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public_docs/upload/FY2009_Approved_Budget.pdf |title=Approved Fiscal 2009 Annual Budget |year=2009 |publisher=WMATA |page=80 }}</ref>{{Update inline|date=October 2024}}

The Red Line is one of two lines that do not enter Virginia, the other being the Green Line.

== Stations == The line serves the following stations, from northwest to northeast:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/upload/2017-System-Map.pdf |title=Metro System Map |publisher=WMATA |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=August 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825193158/https://www.wmata.com/schedules/maps/upload/2017-System-Map.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> {| class=wikitable ! Station ! Code !Location ! Opened<ref name="openings"/> ! Image ! Rail connections !Bus Connections ! Notes |- |{{wmata|Shady Grove}} || A15 | rowspan="7" |Montgomery County, MD|| rowspan="4" | December 15, 1984 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Ride On: 43, 53, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 90, 100, Extra 101, Extra Pink, Extra Lime|| Northwestern terminus |- |{{wmata|Rockville}} || A14 || frameless|100x100px |{{plainlist}} * {{rint|us|amtrak}} Amtrak: {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}} * {{rint|baltimore|marc}} MARC: {{rcb|MARC|Brunswick|inline=square}} {{end plainlist}} |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M82 * Ride On: 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 59, 63, 81, 301, Extra 101 {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|Twinbrook}} || A13 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M12 * Ride On: 5, 26, 44, 45, 46 {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|North Bethesda}} || A12 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M42, M44 * Ride On: 5, 26, 38, 42, 46, 81, Extra 101 {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|Grosvenor–Strathmore}} || A11 || rowspan="5" | August 25, 1984 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Ride-On: 6, 37, 46, 96, Extra 101|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Medical Center}} || A10 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M70 * Ride On: 30, 33, 34, 46, 70, Extra 101 * Fairfax Connector: 798 {{end plainlist}} |N/A |- |{{wmata|Bethesda}} || A09 |frameless|100x100px||{{rint|tram|1|link=Purple Line (Maryland)}} MTA: {{rint|washington|purple}} ''Purple Line (planned)'' |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: D96, M22, M70 * Ride On: 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 47, 70 * Fairfax Connector: 798 {{end plainlist}} |N/A |- |{{wmata|Friendship Heights}} || A08 | rowspan="16" |Washington D.C.|| frameless|100x100px || N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: C83, D80, D82, D96, M82 * Ride On: 1, 11, 23, 29 {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|Tenleytown–AU}} || A07 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: C51, C61, C81, C85, C87, D80, D82, D90|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Van Ness–UDC}} || A06 || rowspan="3" | December 5, 1981 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: D70, D72|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Cleveland Park}} || A05 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: C61, D70, D72|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Woodley Park}} || A04 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: C51, C53, D70|| Second deepest station in the Metrorail network.<ref name=wapo1989>Levy, Claudia (November 6, 1989)."[https://www.proquest.com/docview/307231764/9531637D770A4AA7PQ/1 New Metro Stop Is Way Down Under;Curious in Md. Take Preview Plunge Into Area's Deepest Station]". ''The Washington Post''. p. B3.</ref> |- |{{wmata|Dupont Circle}} || A03 || January 17, 1977 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: C91, D74, D90, D94, D96|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Farragut North}} || A02 || rowspan="2" | March 27, 1976 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: A58, D10, D20, D70, D72, D80, D94, F19|| Out-of-station interchange at {{wmata|Farragut West}} |- |{{wmata|Metro Center}} || A01 || frameless|100x100px||{{WMATA icon|orange}} {{WMATA icon|silver}} {{WMATA icon|blue}} |Metrobus: A29, A49, D10, D20, D24, D30, D32, D34, D36, D44, D5X, D60, D6X, D94||N/A |- |{{wmata|Gallery Place}} || B01 || December 15, 1976 || frameless|100x100px||{{WMATA icon|yellow}} {{WMATA icon|green}} |Metrobus: D20, D24, D2X, D30, D34, D40, D4X, D80, D94||N/A |- |{{wmata|Judiciary Square}} || B02 || rowspan="2" | March 27, 1976 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: D20, D24, D30|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Union Station}} || B03 || frameless|100x100px |{{plainlist}} * {{ric|Amtrak|name=y}}: {{lnl|Amtrak|Acela}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Cardinal}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Carolinian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Crescent}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Northeast Regional}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Palmetto}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Vermonter}} * {{rint|baltimore|marc}} MARC: {{rcb|MARC|Brunswick|inline=square}}, {{rcb|MARC|Camden|inline=square}}, {{rcb|MARC|Penn|inline=square}} * {{rint|vre}} VRE: {{rcb|VRE|Fredericksburg|inline=square}}, {{rcb|VRE|Manassas|inline=square}} {{end plainlist}} |Metrobus: C43, C51, C55, C71, D20, D24, D2X, D30, D80|| N/A |- |{{wmata|NoMa–Gallaudet U}} || B35 || November 20, 2004 || frameless|100x100px||N/A |Metrobus: C53, C57||Infill station, built in 2004. The first infill station on the Metrorail network. |- |{{wmata|Rhode Island Avenue}} || B04 || March 27, 1976 || frameless|100x100px||N/A |Metrobus: D32, D36, D74, P10, P1X, P40||N/A |- |{{wmata|Brookland–CUA}} || B05 || rowspan="4" | February 6, 1978 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |Metrobus: C61, C63, D30, D34, D74, P33|| N/A |- |{{wmata|Fort Totten}} || B06 || frameless|100x100px||{{WMATA icon|yellow}} {{WMATA icon|green}} |Metrobus: C71, C77, C81, D30, D44, M60, M6X, P16, P16, P32, P35||N/A |- |{{wmata|Takoma}} || B07 || frameless|100x100px || N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: C75, C77, D50, D5X, P42 * Ride On: 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 24, 25 {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|Silver Spring}} || B08 | rowspan="4" |Montgomery County, MD|| frameless|100x100px |{{plainlist}} * {{rint|tram|1|link=Purple Line (Maryland)}} MTA: {{rint|washington|purple}} ''Purple Line (planned)'' * {{rint|baltimore|marc}} MARC: {{rcb|MARC|Brunswick Line|inline=square}} {{end plainlist}} |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: C87, D40, D4X, D60, D6X, M20, M52, M54, M70, P30 * Ride On: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, FLASH Blue, FLASH Orange {{end plainlist}} | N/A |- |{{wmata|Forest Glen}} || B09 || rowspan="2" | September 22, 1990 || frameless|100x100px ||N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M20 * Ride On: 7, 8 {{end plainlist}} || Deepest station in the Metrorail network. The only station without escalators. |- |{{wmata|Wheaton}} || B10 || frameless|100x100px ||N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M12, M20, M22 * Ride On: 4, 7, 8, 9, 31, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 48{{end plainlist}} | This station has the longest escalators in the western hemisphere. |- |{{wmata|Glenmont}} || B11 || July 25, 1998 || frameless|100x100px ||N/A |{{plainlist}} * Metrobus: M20, M22, M42, M44 * Ride On: 26, 31, 33, 39, 41, 49, 51, 53 {{end plainlist}} | Northeastern terminus |}

== Additions, renovations and repairs == In May 2026 WMATA announced that the Bethesda, Medical Center and Grosvenor–Strathmore stations will be closed July 6 to September 6, 2026, to allow for completion of a new mezzanine in Bethesda, which will connect to the future Purple Line light rail station; and for completion of other Red Line construction projects.<ref>{{cite web |title=Summer 2026 Red Line Major Construction |url=https://www.wmata.com/ride/alerts-and-advisories/summer-2026-red-line-major-construction.html |date=2026-05-15 |publisher=WMATA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Red Line Summer 2026 Major Construction; Effective July 6-Sept. 6 |url=https://www.wmata.com/content/dam/wmata-com/advisories/advisories_micc_072026/Summer%202026%20Major%20Construction/Summer%202026%20Red%20Line%20Major%20Construction%20Handout.pdf |date=2026-04-24 |publisher=WMATA}}</ref>

== Proposed improvements == In 2011, the WMATA examined the possibility of extending the Red Line past the Shady Grove station to the Metropolitan Grove station by 2040.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://planitmetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/TAG_07_Meeting.pdf |title=Meeting |website=planitmetro.com |access-date=2020-06-17 |archive-date=June 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626134157/http://planitmetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/TAG_07_Meeting.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://planitmetro.com/2011/06/09/tag-meeting-7-analysis-of-enhanced-surface-transit-metrorail-extensions-and-new-metrorail-lines-through-and-around-the-core/ |title=TAG Meeting #7: Analysis of Enhanced Surface Transit, Metrorail Extensions, and New Metrorail Lines Through and Around the Core |date=May 5, 2011 |website=planitmetro.com |access-date=2020-06-17 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ggwash.org/view/9774/metro-planners-contemplate-systems-second-generation |title=Metro planners contemplate system's second generation |date=June 21, 2011 |website=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=2020-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ggwash.org/view/66209/brown-line-and-the-rosslyn-y-metro-proposals-you-probably-forgot |title=Five (mostly rejected) ideas for Metro expansion you've probably forgotten about |date=January 22, 2018 |website=GGWash |access-date=2020-06-17}}</ref>

In 2021, an infill station between Takoma and Silver Spring called North Takoma station that used to be part of the Metropolitan Subdivision was proposed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan Briefing, Montgomery County Planning Board, Item No. 7, 09-30-2021 |url=https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-0930-SSDACUpdate-signed.pdf |website=Montgomery Planning Board |publisher=Maryland National-Capital Parks and Planning Commission |access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Further reading == {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book |title=The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro |first=Zachary |last=Schrag |year=2006 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=0-8018-8246-X |location=Baltimore, MD}} {{Refend}}

== External links == {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} {{Commons category|Red Line (Washington Metro)}} * [https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/WMATA_Red_Line Red Line at world.nycsubway.org]

{{Washington Metro}} {{Transit In DC}}

{{good article}}

Category:Red Line (Washington Metro) Category:Railway lines opened in 1976 Category:1976 establishments in Washington, D.C.