Metro Train

Submitted by terri_stocke on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 01:24

The closest metro station to the Washington Monument is the Smithsonian (on Blue and Orange line). From the station’s platform, use exit stairs going towards The Mall. You will come up on a corner of 12th & Jefferson street – turn around and you should see the monument. Walk along the Mall. 

Second closest stations is Federal Triangle (quite a walk away); next further - Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza (quite a walking distance – I do not suggest this option).
 
Please refer to the website for general information, downloadable maps, minute-by-minute schedules, trip-planner tool, look-up cost of any ride, information on what attraction is near each station, etc.
It may appear hard to navigate the system if you have no prior experience with metro, but if my mother (a foreigner, with very little English language skills) was able to do this, you can do it too! 
 
Once in D.C./VA/MD area, you can get a map of downtown D.C. (from newspaper stands, bookstores, etc.) with metro lines over-posted on it – that way you know where you are on the ground and underground. Each metro station has a large map of nearby area with “you are here” marker. Also, at each station you can get free pocket size booklet that includes map and general guidelines and rules. Google Maps for Washington, D.C. area shows blue “M” icons for metro stations, so you can get familiarized before you travel. On the ground, Metro stations can be identified by large black columns with large “M”; various color circles on the column show which line(s) train serve the station.
 

Out of all modes of transportations, metro trains operate the longest hours and run continuously in all directions from opening till closing, 7 days a week, open on weekdays at 5 a.m., weekends at 7 a.m.; it closes at midnight on Sunday through Thursday, and as late as 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights (to encourage party-goers not to drive). NOTE: the last train will leave the station before the closing time, so plan ahead. Arlington Cemetery station closes at 10 p.m. in the Spring – you don’t want to be there later anyway. 
 

Where are you going?  All trains are identified by the line’s color on the map (e.g., Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Yellow) and the direction of each train – which is described by the last/final station in the direction the train is headed. No, they don’t call it north, east, south-west, – these are not highway routes. When a train comes to a platform, it will have its “line color” stated on the front (driver’s windshield) and each car has a small display above the side windows – look closely – you will see a small bar that is the color ID, and the name of the final station toward which the train is headed. Additional feature (sometimes unreliable, like any computer system) – each platform has a display that lists: line color, how many cars, in what direction, and waiting time till the arrival of next 2-3 trains in order of arrival.

 

The most important Rules of Behavior: Exercise safety rules listed here. I cannot stress enough the one rule that all have to follow: on the escalators – stand on the right side (and I mean right half of the steps to allow another adult to pass you on the left); move/pass on the left side; the “locals” are in the hurry and want to pass (run down the steps) and you are in their way. Also, do not block (e.g., stand in front of it and talk!) the escalator steps; once at the end of the run - quickly move away from it – do not block others’ ability to get off – it may cause serious injuries for those behind you. Similar courtesy is expected when boarding the train – let those trying to exit the train get off first, by standing to the side of the doors, and then board. At the platform, stand behind the bumpy tiles along the platform’s edge; watch for flashing lights along the platform’s edge, which signal train’s arrival. Once inside the train, proceed further in, do not block and gather by the doors. Keep track of where the train is along the route – if the next station is where you need to get off, start to proceed towards the doors so you are not hurrying to the door in last second – those doors close when the voice says “doors are closing” and you might be stuck (unlike elevator doors, train doors do not reopen automatically). If you missed your stop, just stay on the train, get to the next stop, get off the train, get to the opposite platform and take same “color” line train going in reverse – get off at next stop (there is no extra charge). 

»