Editing Washington Metro (section)

=== Infrastructure ===

==== Stations ====
{{Main|List of Washington Metro stations}}
[[File:Dulles Airport Station Platform 1115.jpg|thumb|The platform at [[Dulles International Airport station|Dulles International Airport]]]]
[[File:WMATA Alstom 6000 series on the Yellow Line arriving in King St Old Town Station.jpg|thumb|The platform of {{wmata|King Street–Old Town}}]]
[[File:Entrance to L'Enfant Plaza station -02- (50066962107).png|thumb|Station entrances are marked by distinctive vertical pylons, which feature the colors of each line serving the station]]
There are 40 stations in the District of Columbia, 15 in Prince George's County, 13 in Fairfax County, 11 in Montgomery County, 11 in Arlington County, 5 in the City of Alexandria, and 3 in Loudoun County.<ref name="wmatafacts" /> The most recent station was opened on May 19, 2023, an infill station at {{wmata|Potomac Yard}}.<ref name="pyopen"/> At {{convert|196|ft|m}} below the surface, the {{wmata|Forest Glen}} station on the Red Line is the deepest in the system. There are no escalators; high-speed elevators take 20 seconds to travel from the street to the station platform. The {{wmata|Wheaton}} station, one stop to the north of the Forest Glen station, has the longest continuous escalator in the US and in the [[Western Hemisphere]], at {{convert|230|ft|m}}.<ref name="wmatafacts" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/us/02escalators.html |title=For Washington, a Trek to Daylight |newspaper=New York Times |date=July 1, 2011 |access-date=July 26, 2012 |last=Walsk |first=Sean Collins}}</ref> The {{wmata|Rosslyn}} station is the deepest station on the Orange/Blue/Silver Line, at {{convert|117|ft|m}} below street level. The station features the second-longest continuous escalator in the Metro system at {{convert|194|ft|m}}; an escalator ride between the street and mezzanine levels takes nearly two minutes.<ref>{{cite journal |date=Summer 2006 |title=Discover A New Horizon |journal=Rosslyn Magazine |volume=1 |issue=2 |page=21}}</ref>

The system is not centered on any single station, but {{wmata|Metro Center}} is at the intersection of the Red, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines.<ref name="2008guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/media_guide_2008.pdf |title=Media Guide 2008 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=January 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325134630/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/docs/media_guide_2008.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> The station is also the location of WMATA's main sales office, which closed in 2022. Metro has designated five other "core stations" that have high passenger volume, including:<ref name="corestations">{{cite web|url=http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Demand_Passenger%20Facilities.pdf |title=Core Stations Capacity Enhancements |date=October 21, 2008 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=January 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310092644/http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Demand_Passenger%20Facilities.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> {{wmata|Gallery Place}}, transfer station for the Red, Green, and Yellow Lines; {{wmata|L'Enfant Plaza}}, transfer station for the Orange, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow Lines; {{wmata|Union Station}}, the busiest station by passenger boardings;<ref name=2008guide /> {{wmata|Farragut North}}; and {{wmata|Farragut West}}.

To deal with the high number of passengers in transfer stations, Metro is studying the possibility of building pedestrian connections between nearby core transfer stations. For example, a {{convert|750|ft|m|adj=on}} passage between Metro Center and Gallery Place stations would allow passengers to transfer between the Orange/Blue/Silver and Yellow/Green Lines without going to one stop on the Red Line or taking a slight detour via L’Enfant Plaza. Another tunnel between Farragut West and Farragut North stations would allow transfers between the Red and Orange/Blue/Silver lines, decreasing transfer demand at Metro Center by an estimated 11%.<ref name=corestations /> The Farragut pedestrian tunnel has yet to be physically implemented, but was added in virtual form effective October 28, 2011: the SmarTrip system now interprets an exit from one Farragut station and entrance to the other as part of a single trip, allowing cardholders to transfer on foot without having to pay a second full fare.<ref name="farragut crossing launch">{{Cite press release |title=Metro launches Farragut Crossing |date=October 28, 2011 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5074 |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202021647/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5074 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Around 2003, the network designed newer stations with redundant or backup elevators, in case one elevator goes out of service. These designs were implemented with the three stations that opened in 2004, five in 2014, six in 2022, and one in 2023.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 0 auto; text-align:left;"
|+ '''Busiest stations by total annual passenger entries (2023)'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Metrorail Ridership Summary |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/ridership-portal/Metrorail-Ridership-Summary.cfm |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! Station
! Entries
! Line(s)
|-
| 1
| {{wmata|Metro Center}}
| 3,929,940
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Blue|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Orange|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Silver|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 2
| {{wmata|Foggy Bottom–GWU}}
| 3,742,176
| {{WMATA icon|Blue|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Orange|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Silver|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 3
| {{wmata|Union Station}}
| 3,651,760
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 4
| {{wmata|Gallery Place}}
| 3,536,641
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Green|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Yellow|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 5
| {{wmata|Dupont Circle}}
| 2,985,099
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 6
| {{wmata|Farragut North}}
| 2,779,479
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 7
| {{wmata|L'Enfant Plaza}}
| 2,739,674
| {{WMATA icon|Blue|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Orange|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Silver|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Green|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Yellow|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 8
| {{wmata|Farragut West}}
| 2,616,830
| {{WMATA icon|Blue|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Orange|showtext=yes}} {{WMATA icon|Silver|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 9
| {{wmata|NoMa–Gallaudet U}}
| 2,406,409
| {{WMATA icon|Red|showtext=yes}}
|-
| 10
| {{wmata|Navy Yard–Ballpark}}
| 2,310,236
| {{WMATA icon|Green|showtext=yes}}
|- 
|}

==== Rolling stock ====
{{Main|Washington Metro rolling stock}}
Metro's fleet consists of 1,216 rail cars, each {{convert|75|ft|m|2}} long, with 1,208 in active revenue service as of May 2024. Though operating rules currently limit trains to {{cvt|59|mph}} (except on the Green line, where they can go up to {{cvt|65|mph}}),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/business/procurement/solicitations/documents/Volume%205_2%20-%20WMATA%20Safety%20and%20Security%20Plans%20and%20Documents.pdf |title=Metrorail Safety Rules and Procedures Handbook |website=WMATA |page=100 |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2018 |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520192659/https://www.wmata.com/business/procurement/solicitations/documents/Volume%205_2%20-%20WMATA%20Safety%20and%20Security%20Plans%20and%20Documents.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> all trains have a maximum speed of {{cvt|75|mph}}, and average {{convert|33|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, including stops.<ref name=wmatafacts /> All cars operate as [[Twin unit|married pairs]] (consecutively numbered even-odd with a cab at each end of the pair except 7000-series railcars), with systems shared across the pair.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/media-relations/glossary.cfm#m-r |title=Glossary & Acronyms |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205013417/https://www.wmata.com/about/media-relations/glossary.cfm#m-r |url-status=live }}</ref>

''In the "Active railcars" table, font in bold represents the railcars that are currently in service, while the regular font represents cars that are temporarily out of service''

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="10" style="color:white;background:green" | Active railcars
|-
! Series || Manufacturer || Number purchased<ref name="fy20 proposed budget" /> || Entered service || Retired (estimated)
! Currently owned<ref name="fy20 proposed budget" /> || Currently active<ref name="fy20 proposed budget">{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public_docs/upload/FY20-Proposed-Budget-FINAL-to-WEB-121318_b.pdf |title=FY20 Proposed Budget |date=December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124306/https://www.wmata.com/about/records/public_docs/upload/FY20-Proposed-Budget-FINAL-to-WEB-121318_b.pdf |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |publisher=[[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] |access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref> || Planned replacement
|-
|-
| '''[[Washington Metro rolling stock#3000-series|3000]]'''
|'''Breda'''|| 290 || 1987 || 2027–2029
| 284 || 280
|8000-series
|-
| '''[[Washington Metro rolling stock#6000-series|6000]]'''|| '''Alstom'''|| 184 || 2006 ||
| 184 || 180<br />(additional 2 for "[[money train]]") ||
|-
| '''[[Washington Metro rolling stock#7000-series|7000]]''' || '''Kawasaki''' || 748 || 2015 ||
|748
| 748 ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="10" style="color:white; background:red" | Retired railcars
|-
! Series || Manufacturer || Number purchased<ref name="fy20 proposed budget" /> || Entered service || Retired || Currently owned<ref name="fy20 proposed budget" /> || Replacement
|-
|-
| [[Washington Metro rolling stock#1000-series|1000]] || Rohr || 300 || 1976 || 2016–2017
| 2 preserved<ref name="twitter 1000">{{Cite tweet |number=923977269793652737 |user=wmata |title=Milestone: As of today, all 1000-series passenger cars (except #1000-1001 which are being preserved) have been sent to scrap yard. |author=WMATA |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref>|| 7000-series
|-
|[[Washington Metro rolling stock#2000-series|2000]]
| rowspan="2" |Breda
|76
|1982
|2024
|2 preserved
|8000-series
|-
| [[Washington Metro rolling stock#4000-series|4000]] || 100 || 1991 || 2017<ref name="nbc 2018">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Out-With-the-Old_-Metro-Retires-4000-Series-Rail-Cars_Washington-DC-473936643.html |title=Say Goodbye: Metro Retires Its Most Unreliable Trains |last=Tuss |first=Adam |date=February 13, 2018 |work=NBC4 Washington |access-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref>
| 2 preserved<ref name="loudoun 4000">{{cite web |url=https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=39 |title=Loudoun Metrorail Training Simulator Opens |date=June 28, 2017 |publisher=Loudoun County Government |access-date=July 20, 2017 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810014600/https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3954 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="retire July 2017" /> || 7000-series
|-
| [[Washington Metro rolling stock#5000-series|5000]] || CAF / AAI || 192 || 2001 || 2018–2019<ref name="EOL">{{cite tweet |number=1050739829301014528 |user=wmata |title=END OF THE LINE: Today is the last day you'll ride a 5000-series railcar! |author=WMATA |date=October 12, 2018 |access-date=October 12, 2018}}</ref> || 2 preserved || 7000-series
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="10" style="color:white;background:orange" | Future railcars
|-
! Series || Manufacturer || Number purchased<ref name="fy20 proposed budget" /> || Entered service (estimated)
|-
|-
| [[Washington Metro rolling stock#8000-series|8000]] || Hitachi<ref name="8000 Series">{{cite news |last1=George |first1=Justin |title=Metro selects Hitachi Rail to build its next-generation rail car |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2020/10/06/metro-8000-series-rail-car/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> || 256–800<ref name=procurement>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/8000-series-railcar-procurement.cfm |title=Metro begins 8000-series railcar procurement |date=September 4, 2018 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> (proposed) || 2027<ref name=procurement />
|}
[[File:Rohr train.jpg|thumb|right|alt=An exterior perspective view of a train, with its distinct brown and metallic design, at a station platform.|A train of Rohr cars arriving at {{wmata|Cheverly}} (2005)]]
[[File:Metro 7000-Series railcar debut 3.jpg|thumb|The 7000 series trains, manufactured by Kawasaki, were introduced in 2015&nbsp;– the first generation of rolling stock to have a major change in design, as the 1000–6000 series trains all had a very similar look and feel.]]
[[File:Metro 7000-Series railcar debut 5.jpg|thumb|The interior of the 7000 series trains uses a mix of transverse and longitudinal seating.]]
[[File:WMATA Rohr 1028 with locomotive.jpg|thumb|Originally built for passenger service, this railcar was later converted to a [[clearance car]] with "feelers".]]
Metro's rolling stock was acquired in seven phases, and each version of car is identified with a separate series number.

The original order of 300 railcars (all of which have been retired as of July 1, 2017)<ref name="retire July 2017">{{Cite press release|title=Metro to retire all 1000- and 4000-series railcars by July 1, months ahead of schedule|date=June 7, 2017|publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/1000-4000-series-railcars-retired-July1.cfm|access-date=November 10, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804013358/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/1000-4000-series-railcars-retired-July1.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref> was manufactured by [[Rohr Industries]], with final delivery in 1978.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget">{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/FY19-Proposed-Budget.pdf |title=FY19 Proposed Budget |date=November 2017 |publisher=[[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] |access-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217082929/https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/FY19-Proposed-Budget.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> These cars are numbered 1000–1299 and were rehabilitated in the mid-1990s.

[[Hitachi Rail Italy|Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie]] (Breda), manufactured the second order of 76 cars delivered in 1983 and 1984.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget" /> These cars, numbered 2000–2075, were rehabilitated in the early 2000s by [[Alstom]] in [[Hornell, New York]].<ref name=IRJDec03>Transit Briefs ''[[International Railway Journal ]]'' December 2003 page 9</ref> All 2000-series cars were retired by May 10, 2024.<ref>{{cite news|title=Goodbye, carpet on Metro. Oldest trains in system to be removed|url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/goodbye-carpet-on-metro-oldest-trains-to-be-removed/3612724/|date=2024-05-09|access-date=2024-09-06|first=Lilly|last=Roser|work=NBC4 Washington}}</ref>

A third order of 290 cars, also from Breda, were delivered between 1984 and 1988.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget" /> These cars are numbered 3000–3289 and were rehabilitated by Alstom in the mid-2000s.<ref name=IRJDec03/>

A fourth order of 100 cars from Breda, numbered 4000–4099, were delivered between 1991 and 1994.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget" /> All 4000-series cars were retired by July 1, 2017.<ref name="nbc 2018" />

A fifth order of 192 cars was manufactured by [[Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles]] (CAF) of Spain. These cars are numbered 5000–5191 and were delivered from 2001 through 2004.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget" /> Most 5000-series cars were retired in October 2018 and the last few in spring 2019.<ref name="EOL" />

A sixth order of 184 cars from Alstom Transportation, are numbered 6000–6183 and were delivered between 2005 and 2007.<ref name="fy19 proposed budget" /> The cars have body shells built in [[Barcelona]], Spain with assembly completed in Hornell, New York.<ref name="currentcars">{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/020807_4a.pdf |title=Railcars Semi-Annual Update |date=February 8, 2007 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |access-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205013453/https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/020807_4a.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 7000-series railcars, built by [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company]] of Kobe, Japan, were delivered for on-site testing during winter 2013–2014, and first entered service on April 14, 2015, on the Blue Line. The cars are different from previous models in that while still operating as married pairs, the cab in one car is eliminated, turning it into a B car. This design allows for increased passenger capacity, elimination of redundant equipment, greater energy efficiency, and lower maintenance costs. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] investigation of the fatal June 22, 2009, accident led it to conclude that the 1000-series cars are unsafe and unable to protect passengers in a crash. As a result, on July 26, 2010, Metro voted to purchase 300 7000-series cars, which replaced the remaining 1000-series cars.<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Line crash was inevitable, NTSB finds |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Ann |last=Scott Tyson |page=A1 |date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1917616 |work=WTOP |title=Metro's oldest rail cars will be rolling out of service |date=March 22, 2010 |first=Adam |last=Tuss |access-date=July 28, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=November 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> An additional 128 7000-series cars were also ordered to serve the Silver Line to Dulles Airport (64 for each phase). In April 2013, Metro placed another order for 100 7000-series cars, which replaced all of the 4000-series cars.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/washington-orders-more-kawasaki-metro-cars/archiv/2013/mai.html |title=Washington orders more Kawasaki metro cars |magazine=[[Railway Gazette International]] |date=May 22, 2013 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822021734/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/washington-orders-more-kawasaki-metro-cars/archiv/2013/mai.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 13, 2015, WMATA used their final option and purchased an additional 220 7000-series railcars for fleet expansion and to replace the 5000-series railcars, bringing the total order number to 748 railcars. On February 26, 2020, WMATA accepted the delivery of the final 7000-series car.<ref name="The final car of the Metro 7000 ser">{{cite tweet |user=tomrousseyABC7 |number=1232715666068770816 |date= February 26, 2020 |title= The final car of the Metro 7000 series, 7747, was just revealed. Metro ordered a total of 748 cars in the 7000 series, the number is 47 because they started with train 7000. }}</ref>

The 8000-series cars will be constructed by Hitachi Rail.<ref name="performance vehicles">{{cite web |date=October 21, 2008 |title=2000/3000 Series Rail Car Replacement |url=http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Performance_Vehicles.pdf |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |page=2 |access-date=February 15, 2014 |quote=Replace all 366 of the 2000 and the 3000 Series rail cars with new 8000 Series rail cars.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212214828/http://www.wmata.com/pdfs/planning/Performance_Vehicles.pdf|archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref><ref name="railwayage.com">{{cite web |title=WMATA Selects Hitachi Rail for 8000-Series Cars |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/rapid-transit/wmata-selects-hitachi-rail-for-8000-series-cars/?RAchannel=news |website=[[Railway Age]] |access-date=October 7, 2020 |date=October 7, 2020 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010215916/https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/rapid-transit/wmata-selects-hitachi-rail-for-8000-series-cars/?RAchannel=news |url-status=live}}</ref> While these railcars would have a similar appearance to the 7000-series, the 8000-series would include more features such as "smart doors" that detect obstruction, high-definition security cameras, more space between seats, wider aisles, and non-slip flooring.<ref name="railwayage.com" /> In September 2018, Metro issued a request for proposals from manufacturers for 256 railcars with options for a total of up to 800.<ref name="8000 rfp" /> The first order would replace the 2000 and 3000-series equipment, while the options, if selected, would allow the agency to increase capacity and retire the 6000-series.<ref name="8000 rfp">{{cite web |url=https://www.metro-report.com/news/metro/single-view/view/washington-metro-starts-next-fleet-renewal.html |title=Washington Metro starts next fleet renewal |publisher=[[Metro Report International]] |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915231030/https://www.metro-report.com/news/metro/single-view/view/washington-metro-starts-next-fleet-renewal.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Signaling and operation ====
{{Main|Washington Metro signaling and operation}}
During normal passenger operation on revenue tracks, trains are designed to be controlled by an integrated [[Automatic train operation|Automatic Train Operation]] (ATO) and [[Automatic train control|Automatic Train Control]] (ATC) system that accelerates and brakes trains automatically without operator intervention. All trains are still staffed with train operators who open and close the doors, make station announcements, and supervise their trains. The system was designed so that an operator could manually operate a train when necessary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/033105_Rev3033005PrecisionStopping.pdf |title=Precision Station Stopping Progress Update |date=March 21, 2005 |publisher=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|access-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205101157/https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/033105_Rev3033005PrecisionStopping.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since June 2009, when [[June 2009 Washington Metro train collision|two Red Line trains collided]] and killed nine people due in part to malfunctions in the ATC system, all Metro trains have been manually operated.<ref name="Manual">{{cite news |last=Hohmann |first=James |title=After Fatal Crash, Metro Still Wary Of Letting Computers Control Trains |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/18/AR2009081802446.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 19, 2009 |access-date=September 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813112745/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/18/AR2009081802446.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The current state of manual operation has led to heavily degraded service, with new manual requirements such as absolute blocks, speed restrictions, and end-of-platform stopping leading to increased headways between trains, increased dwell time, and worse on-time performance.<ref>Customer Services, Operations, and Safety Committee, "[https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/031120_4BManualvsATO2.pdf Manual vs. Automatic Operation and Operational Restrictions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205101135/https://www.wmata.com/about/board/meetings/upload/031120_4BManualvsATO2.pdf |date=February 5, 2017 }}," Information Item IV-B, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board, March 11, 2010.</ref> Metro originally planned to have all trains be automated again by 2017,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/computer-driven-trains-returning-to-metros-red-line-five-years-after-deadly-rail-crash/2014/09/20/68790a32-3e04-11e4-b03f-de718edeb92f_story.html |title=Computer-driven trains returning to Metro's Red Line five years after deadly rail crash |date=September 20, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 20, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926025751/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/computer-driven-trains-returning-to-metros-red-line-five-years-after-deadly-rail-crash/2014/09/20/68790a32-3e04-11e4-b03f-de718edeb92f_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but those plans were shelved in early 2017 in order to focus on more pressing safety and infrastructure issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wamu.org/story/17/04/06/metro-shelves-plans-bring-back-automated-trains/|title=Metro Shelves Plans To Bring Back Automated Trains|date=April 6, 2017|publisher=WAMU|access-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> In March 2023, Metro announced plans to re-automate the system by December of that year,<ref>{{Cite news |last=George |first=Justin |date=March 6, 2023 |title=Metro will return to automatic train system for first time in 14 years |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/03/06/metro-ato-train-system-transit/ |access-date=March 6, 2023}}</ref> but announced in September that these plans would be delayed until 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=George |first=Justin |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Metro delays full switch to automated trains until next year |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/09/14/metro-ato-train-operations/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 }}</ref> ATO resumed only on the Red Line on December 15, 2024, and the highest speed is now 75mph, with ATO scheduled to resume on the rest of the system in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=WMATA {{!}} Metro to begin Automatic Train Operation for the first time in 15 years |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Metro-to-begin-Automatic-Train-Operation-for-the-first-time-in-15-years.cfm |website=WMATA |access-date=16 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Golden |first1=Lianna |title=Day one of Automated Train Operations a success, according to WMATA and Red Line riders |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/red-line-metro-automated-train-operations-ato-wmata-riders-washington-dc-glenmont-shady-grove-national-transportation-safety-board-ntsb-fort-totten-june-22-2009-train-crash-faulty-track-circuit |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=WJLA |date=15 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=David |title=Metro resumes automatic train operations on Red Line after 15 years |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/metro-resumes-automatic-train-operations-red-line-after-15-years |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=FOX 5 DC |date=15 December 2024}}</ref>

The train doors were originally designed to be opened and closed automatically and the doors would re-open if an object blocked them, much as elevator doors do. Almost immediately after the system opened in 1976 Metro realized these features were not conducive to safe or efficient operation and they were disabled. Metro began testing reinstating automatic train door opening in March 2019, citing delays and potential human error.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Release-Automatic-Door-Testing.cfm|title=Metro begins testing automatic door operations on passenger trains|date=March 4, 2019|website=WMATA|access-date=March 9, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510163734/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Release-Automatic-Door-Testing.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref> If a door tries to close and it meets an obstruction, the operator must re-open the door. In October 2023, automatic train door opening, where train doors will automatically open upon alighting, was restored to a limited number of trains on the Red Line. Operators must manually close the doors after they open. WMATA claims that automatic door opening provides a safety benefit since it eliminates potential human error resulting in the doors opening on the wrong side and a reduction in the wait time before doors opening, improving the customer experience and station dwell times.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Doors opening... faster! Metro preparing for Auto Doors |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/ADO-operator-certification.cfm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018123155/https://www.wmata.com/about/news/ADO-operator-certification.cfm |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority}}</ref>