Washington DC's Metrorail System - VOA Story

Every day, hundreds of thousands of commuters and tourists travel in and out of Washington. One of the most popular modes of transportation in the Washington area is Metrorail, a subway system serving more than 85 stations.

Since it first opened in 1976, Metrorail -- or Metro -- has served over three billion people. The subway system covers 170 kilometers and travels through Washington, D.C. and neighboring communities in Maryland and Virginia.

More than 700,000 riders use Washington's rapid transit system daily, making it the second-busiest in the U.S., behind New York's subway system.

There were only five stations when the system first opened. Today there are over 80 stops on the system's five lines. Unlike the fixed price charged on transit systems in many other cities, Metro's fare varies based on the distance traveled and the time of day.

The system's trains travel at an average speed of over 50 kilometers per hour. At that speed, a trip from the heart of Washington to Reagan-National Airport will take only a few minutes. And while there may not be much to see when looking out a Metro car window, if you do look quickly in-between stops, you might see one of the "tunnel ads".

Whether a commuter or a tourist, most agree Metrorail is just the ticket for getting around the nation's capital.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Washington
• DC
• Metro
• Metrorail
• transit
• subway
• train

[USNARox2008]

Our Metro is clean, quiet (compared to other cities) efficient (once you figure it out) and reliable. You make not catch the very next train, but you'll get one eventually. The majority of the Metro system is above ground, there's plenty to see. Metro does not go "everywhere" and it's not open very late.

BATHROOMS AT EVERY STATION!

..just ask the Station Manager, they've been told to stop keeping the bathrooms a secret!

[arcassells]

Is that voice of America?