Take a trip through Metro's history and explore the moments that helped shape America's Metro System. From the opening of the first stations to the innovations, and memories that followed, learn how Metro has connected the DMV for the last five decades.
Metro Through the Years
Updated: 8/19/2026
1976
Red Line Opens
Six years, three months, and twenty-three days after groundbreaking, Metro celebrates our opening day. Five stations open on the Red Line from Rhode Island Av to Farragut North.
1977
Blue Line Opens
The Blue Line opens from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Stadium-Armory — 18 stations and 12 miles of line.
1978
Orange Line Opens
The Orange Line begins service to Prince George’s County, Maryland. Stations include Deanwood and Minnesota Ave in D.C. and Cheverly, Landover, and New Carrollton in Prince George’s County.
1979
Orange Line Begins Service to Ballston
The Orange Line extends to Ballston with four new stations: Court House, Clarendon, Virginia Sq-GMU, and Ballston.
1983
Yellow Line Opens
The Yellow Line begins operating from Gallery Pl-Chinatown to National Airport, crossing the Potomac on our Charles R. Fenwick Bridge.
1986
Orange Line Extends to Vienna
The Orange Line adds nine miles of track and four new stations in Fairfax County, Virginia: East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna.
1991
Green Line Opens
The Green Line begins service with three stations — U St-Cardozo, Shaw-Howard U, and Mt Vernon Sq-UDC.
2001
Original 103-Mile System Is Completed
January 13: The opening of the 6.5-mile segment to Branch Av on the Green Line completes the planned 103-mile, 83-station Metro Rail System.
2004
Blue Line Extends to the East
The Blue Line Extension and its two new stations — Morgan Blvd and Largo Town Center — open on the east end of the Blue Line. This is the first construction beyond the original 103-mile planned system.
2009
Metro Breaks Ridership Records
Over Inauguration Weekend, Metro operates 60 hours of passenger service and customers take an estimated 2.6 million trips. Metro sets several ridership records, including 1.12 million trips on Inauguration Day, the highest ever.
2014
Silver Line Opens
The Silver Line begins operating between Downtown Largo and Wiehle-Reston East, including five new stations in Virginia between McLean and Wiehle-Reston East.
2015
7000-Series Trains Begin Service
The 7000-series trains make their debut on the Blue Line.
2022
Silver Line Phase 2 Brings Metro to Dulles
The second phase of the Silver Line opens, featuring six new stations and service to Dulles International Airport.
2023
Potomac Yard-VT Station Opens
Potomac Yard-VT station opens in Alexandria, Virginia, serving the Yellow and Blue lines.
2024
First Look at 8000-Series Trains
The public gets their first look at mockups of Metro’s new 8000-series trains at the Fleet of the Future Expo.
2025
Metro Is Named APTA’s Transit Agency of the Year
The American Public Transit Association names Metro its 2025 Transit Agency of the Year.