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Visiting Washington, DC
How to Use the Subway (Metrorail or "The Metro") in Washington, DC
The subway in Washington, DC, is a convenient, clean
and easy-to-use way to get around Washington. It is called by
most "the Metro", although its official name is Metrorail.
The Metro is operated by the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
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Metro station entrances are marked by tall brown
columns with a large "M" on each side. Metro lines are
color-coded: Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow. The column
identifies the station by name, and the color stripes at the top show
which Metrorail lines serve that station.
The Metro has 5 lines: Blue,
Green, Orange, Red and Yellow.
There are maps in the
stations and inside the trains.
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Using a map,
find the destination and the last stop of the line going in the direction
you want to go. Note the color of the line and any stations where you
need to transfer. Transfer stations are marked on Metro
maps with a double black circle. The color of the line is shown in
the front window of the train. Most station masters have copies of pocket
maps, which are very handy. WMATA has a handy
Trip
Planner.
Also see
StationMasters Online, which has maps of the neighborhoods
around all Metro stations. Very Handy and Recommended.
Your Metrorail
fare depends on when and how far you travel. Peak fares are
charged weekdays between opening-9:30 am and 3-7 pm, and 2 am to
closing. Off-peak fares are
charged at all other times. Fares are posted in all Metrobuses and at
all Metro station kiosks. Up to two children 4-years old or younger
ride free when accompanied by a paying passenger.
On Metrorail, you need a magnetically encoded farecard to
ride. Each passenger must have one. Farecards can be purchased at any
Metro station. Note:
Farecard
vending machines give change in coins and the maximum change
returned is $4.95 - keep in mind if you are using a large bill.
 You can also use a SmarTrip
card, a permanent rechargeable farecard, in lieu of a paper
farecard.
SmarTrip
is plastic, like a credit card, and is embedded
with a special computer chip that keeps track of the value of the
card. One advantage of the SmarTrip
card is that instead of inserting a farecard through the faregate
slot, you simply touch the SmarTrip card to the circular target panels
on top of Metrorail station faregates. Highly Recommended (What's inside a SmarTrip card?)
If you're transferring from Metrorail to Metrobus
in the District of Columbia or Virginia, get a rail transfer at the
station where you enter and give it to the Metrobus operator when you
first board to receive a discount on your bus fare.
Metro has two kinds of farecard
vending machines: Farecards and Passes/Farecards. Both have
complete instructions on the front of the machine.
You can also add value to your
SmarTrip card
at Passes/Farecards machines.
If you have questions, ask the station manager, who can be
found in the booth near the entrances. Note: Farecards
are not refundable.
See WMATA's
web site for other places to buy Metro fares, including online.
At the Metro station, just insert your farecard into the faregate
with the green light and white arrow. Keep your farecard! You'll
need it to exit. When you exit, your fare is automatically deducted
and your farecard is returned if any value remains. Farecards with no
remaining value are kept by the faregate. If your farecard does not
have enough fare for you to exit, you need to add money at the
exitfare machine. Note: Magnets and Metro farecards don't mix.
Keep your farecard away from credit cards and magnetic wallet clasps.
Check the Metro website for
current information. Last train times vary - check the last train
times posted in stations so you don't miss the last train.
Note the later opening hours on weekend:
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M-Th:
5:00 am - 12 midnight
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Friday:
5:00 am - 3:00 am (Sat. morning)
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Saturday:
7:00 am - 3:00 am (Sun. morning)
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Sunday:
7:00 am - 12 midnight
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Where to Wait for the Train |
Signs in each station tell you which side of the platform to wait for
your train. Read down until you find your destination station. Trains
generally stop in the middle of each platform, and flashing lights at
the platform's edge let you know a train is coming. Destinations are
displayed over the train's front and side windows. The color of the
line is shown in the front window.
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When
using the escalators in the Metro System, always stay to the right
unless you plan on walking up or down the steps immediately upon
entering them. The left side of the escalator is for those walking
up or down, the right side for those standing.
See Please Stand to the
Right.
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While
on the train, try to stay AWAY from the doors--move to the center
of the train or take a seat. Since the doors can open on either
side of the train, depending on which station you arrive in, it
makes it easier for those exiting and entering the train if you're
away from the doors. During major events or during rush hour
(7-9am & 4-7pm) the trains can get very crowded and it
behooves you to move inward. Start moving toward the door about
two stops away from your destination if the trains are crowded.
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Please
do not eat, drink, smoke or litter on Metro vehicles or in
stations. It's illegal and punishable by fine and jail.
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Tape
players and portable radios are allowed as long as you use an
earphone or headset.
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Let
passengers leaving the bus or train get off before you try to get
on.
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Special
seats are reserved for senior citizens and riders with
disabilities - please
give up your seat if you see them standing.
More
information
Metro's web site is www.wmata.com,
phone is
202-637-7000.
Metro
Lost & Found online
202-962-1195
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Also see
our Visiting Washington, DC page
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Last updated:
January 13, 2010 |
