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Metro Through the Years

March 10
1976

Red Line Opens

Six years, three months, and twenty-three days after groundbreaking, Metro celebrates our opening day. Five stations open on the Red Line from Rhode Island Av to Farragut North.

March 16
1977
Blue line to National Airport

Blue Line Opens

The Blue Line opens from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Stadium-Armory — 18 stations and 12 miles of line.

March 15
1978

Orange Line Opens

The Orange Line begins service to Prince George’s County, Maryland. Stations include Deanwood and Minnesota Ave in D.C. and Cheverly, Landover, and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County.

March 15
1979

Orange Line Begins Service to Ballston

The Orange Line extends to Ballston with four new stations: Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Sq-GMU, and Ballston.

March 17
1983
A vibrant welcome banner reads "Metro Welcomes Yellow Line" across a street, with trucks and construction equipment nearby. Historical buildings and shops are seen in the background, capturing the atmosphere of a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in Washington DC.

Yellow Line Opens

The Yellow Line begins operating from Gallery Pl-Chinatown to National Airport, crossing the Potomac on our Charles R. Fenwick Bridge.

March 26
1986

Orange Line Extends to Vienna

The Orange Line adds nine miles of track and four new stations in Fairfax County, Virginia: East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna.

March 13
1991

Green Line Opens

The Green Line begins service with three stations — U St-Cardozo, Shaw-Howard U, and Mt Vernon Sq-UDC.

March 23
2001

Original 103-Mile System Is Completed

January 13: The opening of the 6.5-mile segment to Branch Av on the Green Line completes the planned 103-mile, 83-station Metro Rail System.

March 17
2004

Blue Line Extends to the East

The Blue Line Extension and its two new stations — Morgan Blvd and Largo Town Center — open on the east end of the Blue Line. This is the first construction beyond the original 103-mile planned system.

March 19
2009

Metro Breaks Ridership Records

Over Inauguration Weekend, Metro operates 60 hours of passenger service and customers take an estimated 2.6 million trips. Metro sets several ridership records, including 1.12 million trips on Inauguration Day, the highest ever.

February 25
2014
A bustling Metro station features a modern architectural design with a large canopy. Passengers are disembarking from a Metro train, filling the platform with a diverse crowd. The scene captures the energy of commuting, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in the Washington DC region.

Silver Line Opens

The Silver Line begins operating between Downtown Largo and Wiehle-Reston East, including five new stations in Virginia between McLean and Wiehle-Reston East.

March 12
2015
Interior of a Washington DC Metro train showing empty rows of blue seats, metallic poles, and floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting a clean, modern design. The train is illuminated with overhead lights, and the doors are closed, illustrating a typical transit environment for the Metro system's 50th anniversary.

7000-Series Trains Begin Service

The 7000-series trains make their debut on the Blue Line.

March 17
2022
A smiling family of four, including a father, mother, and two children, stands at a Metro station with luggage. They appear happy and excited, with a Metro train in the background. The setting features a well-lit terminal and a parking area, emphasizing the convenience of the Metro system for travel in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Silver Line Phase 2 Brings Metro to Dulles

The second phase of the Silver Line opens, featuring six new stations and service to Dulles International Airport.

March 14
2023
A Washington DC Metro train arrives at the Potomac Yard station, featuring modern architecture with a bright, open design, and passengers walking along the platform under a glass roof. The scene highlights the system's anniversary and commitment to improved transit.

Potomac Yard-VT Station Opens

Potomac Yard-VT station opens in Alexandria, Virginia, serving the Yellow and Blue lines.

March 15
2024
A modern Metro train interior with blue seats, featuring a woman using her phone and a seated man. Metro signage is visible, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system. The environment is bright and clean, showcasing the design of the updated train.

First Look at 8000-Series Trains

The public gets their first look at mockups of Metro’s new 8000-series trains at the Fleet of the Future Expo.

March 13
2025

Metro Is Named APTA’s Transit Agency of the Year

The American Public Transit Association names Metro its 2025 Transit Agency of the Year.

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