DC Metro Blue Line – Downtown Largo - Franconia-Springfield | WMATA

The full ride of the Metro Blue Line to Franconia-Springfield.

Red Line:    • DC Metro Red Line – Glenmont - Shady ...  
Orange Line:    • DC Metro Orange Line – Vienna - New C...  
Yellow Line:    • DC Metro Yellow Line – Mount Vernon S...  
Green Line:    • DC Metro Green Line – Greenbelt - Bra...  
Silver Line:    • DC Metro Silver Line – Downtown Largo...  

Washington Metro
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Date: Sunday, January 28, 2024
Origin: Downtown Largo Station - Largo, Maryland, USA
Destination: Franconia–Springfield Station - Springfield, Virginia, USA

Railcar: 7208 (cab and tunnel view)

Distance: 30 miles / 49 kilometers
Average Speed: 33 mph / 53 km/h
Top Speed: 59 mph / 95 km/h
Track Gauge: 4 ft 8.5 in / 1,435 mm
Total Ride Time: 1 hour, 8 minutes

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"Step back, doors closing..."

The Blue Line opened in 1977 as the second route in the DC Metro system. The route makes a right angle, originating from Prince George's (PG) County, MD into the heart of Washington, DC, then crossing south under the Potomac River into the Northern Virginia suburbs. The Blue Line boasts a total of 28 stops, taking just over an hour to travel end-to-end.

The Metrorail service was launched in 1976 by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), with roots going back to the 1950s. Since then, it's become the second-largest transit rail transit system in America after the New York City Subway. Existing rail cars include the aluminum-skinned 2000/3000 (Breda) and 6000 Series (Alstom), as well as the stainless steel 7000 Series (Kawasaki), with the 8000 Series (Hitachi) set to enter service in 2025. The Blue Line spans 30 miles while sharing tracks and tunnels with the Orange, Silver and Yellow Lines at various points, with speeds topping out around 60 miles per hour. Trains operate in 6- and 8-car sets, requiring 138 rail cars for the line to run at peak capacity.

Special thanks to the entire Metro staff.

Station artwork:
"Largo Lens" Ray King, 2004

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0:00:00 – Boarding
0:00:20 – SmartTrip Fare & Ridership Information
0:00:52 – Leaving Downtown Largo (First Silver Transfer)
0:01:50 – Largo - Morgan Boulevard
0:03:46 – Morgan Boulevard - Addison Road-Seat Pleasant
0:06:37 – Addison Road - Capitol Heights
0:08:43 – Capitol Heights - Benning Road
0:11:07 – SPECIAL Train
0:11:40 – Benning Road - Stadium-Armory
0:13:40 – Orange Line Junction
0:15:16 – Arrival at Stadium-Armory (First Orange Transfer)
0:16:18 – Stadium-Armory - Potomac Avenue
0:18:12 – Potomac Avenue - Eastern Market
0:20:01 – Eastern Market - Capitol South
0:21:45 – Capitol South - Federal Center SW
0:23:37 – Federal Center SW - L'Enfant Plaza
0:25:00 – Holding at L'Enfant Plaza (Yellow/Green Transfer)
0:25:27 – L'Enfant - Smithsonian-National Mall
0:26:58 – Smithsonian - Federal Triangle
0:28:24 – Federal Triangle - Metro Center (Red Line Transfer)
0:29:52 – Metro Center - McPherson Square
0:31:28 – McPherson Square - Farragut West
0:32:28 – Farragut Crossing Program
0:32:47 – Farragut West - Foggy Bottom-GWU
0:34:19 – Foggy Bottom - Rosslyn
0:34:55 – Crossing under the Potomac
0:36:19 – Arrival at Rosslyn (Final Orange/Silver Transfer)
0:36:52 – Rosslyn - Arlington National Cemetery
0:38:56 – Arlington National Cemetery - Pentagon (First Yellow Transfer)
0:41:28 – Pentagon - Pentagon City
0:43:07 – Pentagon City - Crystal City
0:44:57 – Crystal City - Washington National Airport (DCA)
0:46:21 – Connecting to Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore (BWI) - SEE COMMENTS
0:47:00 – Arrival at DCA
0:47:48 – Leaving DCA
0:49:04 – United Airlines N852UA & N26210 (Star Alliance Livery)
0:49:26 – Southwest Airlines N420WN, N4032N & N7835A
0:50:00 – Washington National Airport - Potomac Yard-VT
0:51:53 – Potomac Yard - Braddock Road
0:54:41 – Braddock Road - King Street-Old Town (Final Yellow Transfer)
0:56:36 – Leaving King Street-Old Town (Alexandria Union Station)
0:58:27 – Alexandria Rail Yard
0:59:02 – King Street-Old Town - Van Dorn Street
1:01:52 – Van Dorn Street - Franconia-Springfield
1:05:39 – Arrival at Franconia-Springfield
1:06:46 – Disembarking & Station Mini-Tour

Image Credits:
Wikimedia Commons

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2024 by Javan Hamilton

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