page_title: Washington Metro signaling and operation
section_title: Train length
hierarchical_section_title: Washington Metro signaling and operation / Train length
caption_attribution_description: English: An eight car train is berthed at the platform at Vienna/Fairfax-GMU.
context_page_description: Signaling and operation on the Washington Metro system involves train control, station identification, train signaling, signage, and train length. As with any working railroad, communication between train operators, dispatchers, station personnel and passengers is critical. Failures will result in delays, accidents, and even fatalities. It is therefore important that a comprehensive signal system operated by a central authority be in place. This gives individual train and station operators the information they need to safely and efficiently perform their tasks.
context_section_description: When it first opened, Metro ran a mix of four- and six-car trains; however, there have not been any four-car trains used in the system (except for the money train) since the mid-2000s. The most common train length is eight cars due to the fact that the 7000 series railcars can only be operated this way. During peak hours, a mix of six- and eight-car trainsets are used, while during off-peak and weekend hours almost all trains are only six cars in length. In 2008, Metro began planning to acquire sufficient quantities of the new 7000-Series cars to run 100% eight-car trains. Metro also tested eight-car trains on the Yellow and Blue lines in preparation for increased service during the  2009 inauguration of Barack Obama.
  However, by early 2010 riders began to lose faith in WMATA's "promise" to implement 100% eight-car trains. In December 2010 those fears were confirmed and Metro delayed the plans indefinitely.
  As of 2012, during peak hour service the Red Line runs 51% eight-car trains, the Orange Line runs 40%, and the Green Line runs 50%, while the Blue and Yellow Lines run only six-car trains, for a total of 43 of 129 trains running at full length, or 33%.
caption: An eight-car train sits out of service at Vienna station.
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