Everyone:
40 years ago today - March 27, 1976 - The first Metro Red Line segment opened which was 4.6 miles between
Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue. About 51,000 people rode this free service on this first day which was
far more then originally expected which was around half that total.
I found this information about an event scheduled for 6:30 to 9:30pm Tuesday March 29th at 600 F Street, NW
from the Washington Business Journal - it looks like it is not open to the general public and has a high admission
price to take part in whatever will be presented at that time. Note the 1976-2016 40th Anniversary special logo.
See: http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/event/148702" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If anyone was there on that first day - or remembers that first line in service during that first year 1976-77 please
post pictures and videos of what Metro was like back around that time.
For the first 2 years 8 months Metro was open weekdays only from 6am to 8pm. During that time period Metro
opened the Gallery Place Station on December 15, 1976 and two Red Line extensions: Farragut North to Dupont
Circle on January 17, 1977 and Rhode Island Avenue to Silver Spring on February 4, 1978. The Blue Line was the
second route to open for service on July 1, 1977 from Stadium-Armory to National Airport.
Metro added more operating hours until Midnight on weekdays and weekend hours when the Orange Line to New
Carrollton opened November 20, 1978. What made this significant was that it was the first line built to a terminal.
Washington Metro Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Metro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Does anyone know of any mention in any Media or publication concerning Metrorail's 40th Anniversary today?
Is any group or organization - rail enthusiast or other - making note of this date?
MACTRAXX
40 years ago today - March 27, 1976 - The first Metro Red Line segment opened which was 4.6 miles between
Farragut North and Rhode Island Avenue. About 51,000 people rode this free service on this first day which was
far more then originally expected which was around half that total.
I found this information about an event scheduled for 6:30 to 9:30pm Tuesday March 29th at 600 F Street, NW
from the Washington Business Journal - it looks like it is not open to the general public and has a high admission
price to take part in whatever will be presented at that time. Note the 1976-2016 40th Anniversary special logo.
See: http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/event/148702" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If anyone was there on that first day - or remembers that first line in service during that first year 1976-77 please
post pictures and videos of what Metro was like back around that time.
For the first 2 years 8 months Metro was open weekdays only from 6am to 8pm. During that time period Metro
opened the Gallery Place Station on December 15, 1976 and two Red Line extensions: Farragut North to Dupont
Circle on January 17, 1977 and Rhode Island Avenue to Silver Spring on February 4, 1978. The Blue Line was the
second route to open for service on July 1, 1977 from Stadium-Armory to National Airport.
Metro added more operating hours until Midnight on weekdays and weekend hours when the Orange Line to New
Carrollton opened November 20, 1978. What made this significant was that it was the first line built to a terminal.
Washington Metro Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Metro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Does anyone know of any mention in any Media or publication concerning Metrorail's 40th Anniversary today?
Is any group or organization - rail enthusiast or other - making note of this date?
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS