Metro Makes Destination Changes On Silver Line: What To Know

ASHBURN, VA — Commuters using Metro's Silver Line will now have more destination options starting Sunday.

As of June 22, Metro introduced service changes, including changes to how Silver Line trains run, extended weekend hours and more frequent peak Silver and Red Line service.

On the Silver Line, Metro is now running two service routes. Half of trains are running between Ashburn and Downtown Largo, and the other half are running between Ashburn and New Carrollton, the latter of which is a destination for Orange Line trains. Additional Silver Line trains will run between Wiehle-Reston East to New Carrollton during morning peak hours and from Stadium-Armory to Wiehle-Reston East during afternoon peak hours.

Another upcoming change will be an extension of Yellow Line service. In December, Metro will have half of the Yellow Line trains run between Huntington and Greenbelt and half between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square.

"Ridership on America’s Metro continues to grow," said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. "As more people use the system to get to where they live, work, and play, we continue to look for ways that we can accommodate more customers and provide the service the region deserves."

Updated maps reflecting the Silver Line and upcoming Yellow Line changes will appear on digital screens at Metro station starting on Sunday. Updated paper maps in stations and trains will be shared in upcoming weeks.

The changes come after Metro brought back its Automatic Train Operation with optimized acceleration and braking starting on June 15 on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines. The Automatic Train Operation launched on the Red Line six months ago. Metro also is returning trains to its original speeds on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines, increasing speeds from 55 mph to 65 or 75 mph in some areas. The change seeks to reduce travel times.

Another change is the extension of closings to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and earlier openings at 6 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. As of Monday, Red Line service will run every four minutes during peak weekday rush hours, up from five minutes.

Metro riders should be aware of the next shutdown affecting two Blue Line stations. From July 5 to July 26, the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed. Free local and shuttle buses will replace trains at the two closed stations, and there will be free parking at the two stations. Blue Line service will terminate at the Ronald Reagan National Airport station, so riders should use the Yellow Line to travel to the Potomac Yard, Braddock Road and King St.-Old Town stations.

The construction area will be extended on two weekends. On July 12-13 and 19-20, there will be single tracking on the Yellow Line from Huntington to Braddock Road.

The next Metro shutdown will be Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Avenue on the Green Line from Aug. 2 to 31.