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Metro board votes to automate Red Line fully with driverless trains
Washington, D.C.’s Metro Board of Directors has voted to approve a plan to modernize the Metrorail Red Line fully and convert all its trains to driverless, automatic systems.
TL;DR
- Washington Metro Board approved a $913 million plan to modernize the Red Line and convert trains to driverless systems.
- The project includes adding platform doors at each Red Line station.
- WMATA will seek federal funding, believing the project is eligible for Capital Investment Grants.
- The Red Line, which opened in 1976, was previously on manual operation for 15 years after a 2009 collision.
- Metro workers have raised concerns about the system's reliability and potential job losses.
- Full automation is expected by 2032, with potential future modernization for other lines dependent on funding.