It will be the largest expansion of Metrorail since the system’s inception.
On opening day, Metro teams at the six new Silver Line stations will hand out commemorative pennants, a Metro tradition that started when the first station opened in 1976.
The extension completes the final phase of the full 23-mile expansion that began construction in 2009; the first segment opened five years later. This final segment provides a long-awaited connection to Washington Dulles International Airport, offering visitors a direct connection to destinations around the region.
The Silver Line Extension includes a new rail maintenance and service yard, located on 90 acres of the Washington Dulles International Airport property. The Dulles Rail Yard is the largest rail yard in the Metro system and employs nearly 700 people.
The announcement of a planned opening date follows 18 weeks of testing, training and safety certification efforts by Metro. Metro took control of the Silver Line Extension from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) more than four months ago, after the project achieved its Operational Readiness Date on June 23, 2022. Since then Metro has been testing the new tracks and equipment, and training staff at the stations, railyard, and maintenance facilities in preparation for opening to the public.
Metro continues to work on a short list of items with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, expecting to finalize safety certification before opening for passenger service.
Metro Board Members and employees announced the opening in a video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md8tfV_HiR4.
Visit wmata.com/silverline for more information, including virtual station tours, maps, and connecting bus routes.