WMATA's Red Line was the first of the DC MetroRail lines to open and the 4th to be completed in full. It is the longest in terms of mileage and is the busiest in terms of numbers of passengers carried. Trains are 6 cars long during rush hours and middays, 4 cars evenings, and 6 cars on weekends (4 cars on short runs to/from Silver Spring and Grosvenor from November through March).

Section Openings for the Red Line:

March 27, 1976 (29th according to some): Opens from Rhode Island Avenue to Farragut North (Gallery Place opens at a later date due to the lack of an elevator)
December 15, 1977: Gallery Place opens, no route miles added
January 17, 1977: Extended to DuPont Circle
February 6, 1978: Extended to Silver Spring
December 5, 1981: Extended to Van Ness-UDC
August 25, 1984: Extended to Grosvenor
December 15, 1984: Extended to Shady Grove
September 22, 1990: Extended to Wheaton
July 25, 1998: Extended to Glenmont, line completed

About this run:

You are running a real run with a real timetable from either Shady Grove to Glenmont or Grosvenor to Silver Spring in ATS Mode. This means you are responsible for starting the train, maintaining speed, and slowing down and stopping for stations. As in reality, there are no wayside signals. Cab signals will appear along the right side of the screen that will display the maximum speed in both miles per hour (red) and kilometers per hour (white). The speedometer is located to the left, and only displays kilometers per hour. In reality, these readouts are in the center of the console (where you see the 00 00 00 on the display), but it would have been to small in BVE if I left if there.

Stop the train as close to the green "6" sign (see below) as possible. In reality, as long as all the cars are adjacent to the platform, the doors will open. But, BVE requires you stop within 5 meters (15 feet) of the marker. If you wish, if you overshoot the stop but are still alongside the platform, wait about 15-20 seconds (the average dwell), and then proceed onward. Ignore when it says you have "passed the stop point". Better luck at the next stop.

Speed limits on this line do not work like those on most other BVE Routes. WMATA uses cab signalling. Cab signals will appear along the right side of the screen that will display the maximum speed in both miles per hour (red) and kilometers per hour (white). The speedometer is located to the left, and only displays kilometers per hour. In reality, these readouts are in the center of the console (where you see the 00 00 00 on the display), but it would have been to small in BVE if I left if there. There are sections where if you run at the maximum allowed speed, you will arrive at stations very early and will ultimately be held to return to schedule. Generally, running at about 55 MPH (unless the speed limit is lower) will keep you on schedule, even if the speed limit is posted at 75 MPH.

This is the Cleveland Park Station. Most of the underground island platform stations look like this one.

This is the DuPont Circle Station. Most of the underground side platform stations look like this one.

Passing another train between Woodley Park and DuPont Circle. As in reality, you can see the oncoming track in this tunnel in the simulation. In addition, you pass the trains heading in the other direction and they are scheduled as in reality.

Forest Glen Station. This one and Wheaton have each track in their own tube and a walkway connecting the two.

Approaching the Brentwood Yard. The two mainline tracks straddle the yard which is near the Rhode Island Avenue Station.

Approaching the Twinbrook Station

Shady Grove at night (please note that a night version is not available for download at this time) Signs, Signals, and other Standard Operating Procedures During your journey, you will see various signs and signals. The cab signals, already explained, appear in the upper right part of the screen. There are only two markers that will appear trackside. One will tell you where to stop the train. Your train is 6 cars long, so you will stop at the 6 car marker or as close as you can. Use the yellow and white lines to the right of the screen to help you. The 6 car marker is 25 meters from the end of the platform at most stations. The other trackside will appear as you approach most stations. It is a green sign with a white "S" on it. That is where the marker coils for the automatic train control start for that station, and that point may be up to 2700 feet (822.96m) from the center of the station platform. Signalling on WMATA is quite simple. Since the trains use cab signals, there are no wayside signals except at interlockings. The lunar signals are as follows: All clear Stop and stay Additionally, you should sound your horn at each of the portals (between Twinbrook and White Flint, Grosvenor and Medical Center, Union Station and Rhode Island Avenue, and Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland). Do not sound the horn at the portal between Silver Spring and Forest Glen. Download Route Version 1.6a (Shady Grove to Glenmont, daytime) and Version 1.6b (Grosvenor to Silver Spring, daytime) Download package includes 1000 Series pre-GOH Rohr, 1000 Series GOH Rohr, 2000 Series Breda, 2000 Series Rehabilitated Breda, 5000 Series CAF, and 6000 Series Alstom cars Click here to download the self-extracting .exe file! Self Extracting file is 18 MB! Click here to download the patch for Version 1.6b. File size is 77 KB Once you have dowloaded the self-extracting file to your computer, follow these instructions: 1. Open the file, which will contain a wizard to guide you through the installation process. 2. Review the information above. It is the Readme file and contains very important information. 3. Download the patch (link above) to correct the errors in the Version 1.6b .rw files. These errors will result in the wrong train being selected for most of the routes. 4. Unzip the patch file so that the Version 1.6b .rw files are overwritten with those from the zip file. 5. When you begin the route, you will recieve the following message: "Error 6: Overflow. Continue?" Click "Yes". You will not encounter any further problems but in the event that you do, please contact me at oren@orenstransitpage.com. Known Errors The .rw files for Version 1.6b all are set for the 6000 Series Alstom car, even if this is not the train you wish to drive. To correct this, download the patch available from the link above, and then overwrite your existing Version 1.6b .rw files with the one from the zip file. When you load the route, you will have a message pop up stating "Overflow". When it asks you if you want to continue, say YES. There should be no further problems. Back to BVE Route Database This line has been in operation since