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Metrorail will launch its final planned service increase on Monday, saying any future growth in service will be dictated by passenger demand as the transit agency tries to lure riders back to the rails.
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Metro said the increase will translate into the most train service the agency has offered in its 47-year history, coming after recent expansions that include seven new stations and nearly 12 miles of new Silver Line track since last year. The rail frequency increase will be the 11th since last summer as transit service has rebounded from the pandemic and a rail car suspension — even though ridership remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
Riders will see shorter times between trains on the Red, Blue, Silver, Green and Yellow lines during peak travel times on weekdays, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The service increase will add more than 6 percent more train trips, representing a 60 percent increase over levels one year ago, transit officials said.
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The new service is the latest step forward for Metro, which has struggled for 3？ years to restore high-frequency train service amid a loss of commuters to telework. During that period, a year-long train shortage in 2021 stemming from a wheel defect sidelined several of the agency’s newest rail cars.
“Metro is working hard to provide frequent, reliable service to help move our region and grow our economy.” transit agency General Manager Randy Clarke said in a statement. “This service increase is another win for our customers and a testament to Metro staff who have worked hard to restore safe, frequent service.”
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While the number of commuters on Metro’s bus system is approaching pre-pandemic levels, rail ridership has been slower to recover.
Metro is averaging nearly 278,000 daily rail users this year, up from just over 200,000 last year, but that is still about 45 percent fewer than in 2019, according to transit agency data. In August, Metro averaged nearly 294,000 riders a day, records show, down from nearly 300,000 one month earlier.
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Metro’s previous service bump came in June. While the agency has followed a plan since last year to slowly increase train frequencies based on rail car availability, future service increases will be driven by ridership growth, transit officials said. Last month, the White House and elected officials across the Washington region called on federal agencies to require employees to work more days in offices, although it’s not clear what effect that might have on the region’s commute.
“Metro will monitor ridership trends and continue to assess the need for any future service adjustments based on ridership demand,” the agency said in a statement.
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Metro officials said the latest service upgrade will result in trains running on the Red Line every five minutes during peak weekday periods, a one-minute bump compared to most other times of the day. Trains on the Green and Yellow lines will boost service to every six minutes compared to eight minutes. Service on the Blue and Silver lines will jump to every 10 minutes compared to 12 minutes.
Service will not change on the Orange Line, where trains will continue to operate every 10 minutes all day, seven days a week, except for less frequent service during late-night hours.
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