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Washington DC Metro

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Minilad

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Hi all. Long shot I know but does anyone have, or know where I can obtain, mileage info for the Washington DC Metro system.
TIA
 
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ac6000cw

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If this is a first visit, downtown DC is probably the nicest large US city I've visited (it's even got CSX freight trains through L'Enfant Plaza station, very close to the Mall :)) - you won't be disappointed.
 

Minilad

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I had a day there back in 2002. A day trip on the train from New York. Loco hauled as well not an Acela thing!!
I did like it but didn't really explore much so I am really looking forward to seeing more of the place this time
 

185

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Mileage will go up soon as an extension to (and thru) Dulles is due in the coming years. Far better than the awful hourly bus (the 6A?) service at present.

About time too. Worldwide, the only International airport with such poor ground transportation should solely be LAX, a point of ridicule in the US for many years and a symbol of how to do things totally wrongly.
 

ac6000cw

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Worldwide, the only International airport with such poor ground transportation should solely be LAX, a point of ridicule in the US for many years and a symbol of how to do things totally wrongly.

Yes - I did the LAX shuttle bus/Green Line/Blue Line/Red Line route to get to Union Station once. Interesting, but I used the direct express bus next time - faster and a lot less hassle.....
 

Max

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What would be the best way to get to and from Dulles then. I was going to do the bus to the end of the Silver line

I was in DC last week and made this journey from Dulles. It was easy and pretty fast, though be aware that you need separate tickets for the shuttle bus and Metro, and make sure you have some small notes for the machines at the connecting station, they weren't accepting anything higher than a 10!

I found the DC Metro in general to be very efficient with very easy interchanges between lines. Just be aware that the service is sometimes vastly reduced at the weekend due to engineering works. Last Saturday the Red Line was down to a 20 minute frequency and I had to jump in a taxi instead to avoid missing my Amtrak traim from Union Station!
 

Minilad

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I was in DC last week and made this journey from Dulles. It was easy and pretty fast, though be aware that you need separate tickets for the shuttle bus and Metro, and make sure you have some small notes for the machines at the connecting station, they weren't accepting anything higher than a 10!

I found the DC Metro in general to be very efficient with very easy interchanges between lines. Just be aware that the service is sometimes vastly reduced at the weekend due to engineering works. Last Saturday the Red Line was down to a 20 minute frequency and I had to jump in a taxi instead to avoid missing my Amtrak traim from Union Station!

Excellent thanks. I am planning on getting a weekly pass for the Metro so hopefully I will be able to buy that when I get to the first station
 

williamn

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Having lived in DC for a year I think the Metro is probably the worst system I have ever used. 15-20 minute frequencies are normal at the weekend and evenings. Escalators and lifts are routinely broken. Trains are very badly driven, often stopping short at platforms etc. My time in DC made me realise how lucky we are in London. The one saving grace in DC are the rather lovely stations.
 

89-763-733

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These are the distances for the Silver Line which opened 26.07.2014. The section beyond Wiehle-Reston East does not open until 2018 so those mileages should be regarded as provisional:

East Falls Church 0
McLean 4.66
Tysons Corner 5.31
Greensboro 6.06
Spring Hill 6.75
Wiehle-Reston East 12.59

Reston Parkway 13.72
Herndon-Monroe 15.08
Route 28 16.78
Dulles International Airport 18.88
Route 606 23.84
Route 277 25.80

distances in decimal miles
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A very detailed track plan can be found here:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15315026086_ab81b017ef_o.png
 
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route:oxford

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Love Washington. So much to do and (almost) everything is free to visit.

Just missed the start of the Silver line earlier this year, so did the little hopper bus.

The only negative aspect about Washington Metro stations is that, well, they are a bit dark.

On the journey We did by train

Washington-Richmond (Amtrak)
Richmond-Colonial Wiliamsburg-Richmond(Amtrak)
Richmond-Baltimore(Amtrak) - 7 hour journey due to track issues.

Finally did Baltimore to Washington using the "back" route for a staggering $7 - we had no idea there was the extra commuter rail service until we spotted a diesel loco and carriages sitting alongside the baseball stadium and made enquiries about where it went.

http://mta.maryland.gov/marc-train
 

Minilad

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I loved Washington too. I stayed in a hotel 2 mins walk from Van Ness station.
I used the Metro a lot for getting around and used the new silver line after arriving at Dulles. Only once or twice was I unable to get a seat and I enjoyed using the system. The stations are lovely, albeit some are dark.
 
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