General Metrorail information

Fares

• $1.35 minimum, $3.90 maximum based on distance traveled. For fares between stations, click on your starting station on thesystem mapand choose "Fares and times between stations."
• Transfers- free within Metrorail. 35 cents with transfer to Metrobus.

Hours

7 days a week

Metrorail opens 5:30 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends. It closes at midnight Sunday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday nights, it stays open until 3 a.m.

Finding a Metro station

Look for the tall brown column with the large "M." It identifies the Metro station by name. The color stripes show each Metrorail line that serves the station — blue, green, orange, red and yellow. If you're driving, look for the large Metro signs. Pylons also have the name of the station and line in Braille and raised letters.

For the location of stations, see thesystem mapor thestations page.

Metro-operated lots offer free weekend and holiday parking.Daily parking ratesvary by station.

Entering the system

A farecard,Metrorail pass,Metrochek or Smartripcard are needed to enter and leave the system. Farecards and some passes can be purchased at vending machines in the station mezzanine (Information on using vending machines). Enter through the faregates (Information on using faregates).

Navigating the system

Mapsin the stations near the farecard machines and inside the trains can help you find your way. Note the name of the last stop of the line going in the direction you are traveling and the stations where you want to transfer. Transfer stations are identified on the map with a double black circle.

Waiting for the train

Signs in the station will tell you which platform to use for your destination. Once you are on the platform, please stand on the red tiled area. Flashing lights at the platform's granite edge will alert you that a train is entering the station.

Identifying the train

Check the destination of the train before you board. Destinations are displayed over the train's front and side windows. The color of the line is displayed on the front and back of the train.

Electronic display signs will assist persons who are hearing impaired.

Boarding the train

Stand clear of the train car doors and let passengers get off before you board. Allow persons with disabilities or special needs to board first. Be sure to step over the gap between the platform and the train. Chimes signal that the car doors are closing. Once the chimes have sounded, step back and wait for the next train. Unlike elevator doors, the train doors donotreopen automatically.

Need help?

See the station manager at the kiosk. In emergencies, you can press the red button on the callbox located on some of the station's pylons. Farecards are not refundable, but exchanges will be made for malfunctioning farecards. (Refund policy for farecards)