WMATA Yellow Line

WMATA Yellow Line train lead by car #3235 outbound at Eisenhower Avenue. Photo by David Pirmann, January 2012.

Overview

The Yellow Line shares much of its track with the Blue and Green Lines. Its most distinctive feature is a bridge that spans the Potomac River, offering spectacular views of the Tidal Basin Monuments and Washington DC skyline. The Yellow line is very popular with people going to and from Ronald Reagan National Airport, since the travel time from there to L'Enfant Plaza (many hotels located there) is less than fifteen minutes. The Yellow line was originally supposed to follow the Green Line all the way to Greenbelt station, but this idea was dropped. Currently, it terminates at Mount Vernon Square-UDC.

For stations between King Street and Pentagon, please see the WMATA Blue Line section. For stations between L'Enfant Plaza and Mount Vernon Square-UDC, please see the WMATA Green Line section.

Station By Station

Potomac River Bridge. Not a station, but worthy of note as one of the Yellow Line's more interesting features. The Yellow Line emerges from its tunnel in Potomac Park, south of the Jefferson Memorial and immediately climbs onto a concrete-and-steel deck bridge, set into the riverbed on concrete piers.

We'll skip over the shared stations and go straight to Alexandria, VA. South of King Street station, the Yellow line diverges. There's a short section of tunnel at the junction, then it emerges onto an elevated structure.

Eisenhower Avenue. Eisenhower Avenue is the first exclusive Yellow line stop. This elevated station features two side platforms and still another variant on the gull-wing platform roof design. It is located over Eisenhower Avenue, near Stovall Street. Just north is a track connection to the Blue line, which is primarily used to route trains to the maintenance and repair facility located along that line. Just south, the Yellow line mounts a high bridge that spans the Capital Beltway (I-495). Then it begins its descent into Huntington. Eisenhower Avenue opened December 17, 1983.

Huntington. Huntington station is the terminus of the Yellow line, and is one of the more distinctive stations in terms of design and architecture. It sits just below grade level in a shallow open cut, with the station entrance building and parking facility standing over it on tall concrete piers. Angular concrete cutout designs adorn the tracksides. There is an island platform with the entrance at the station's south end. Here, the tracks go underground into two, short, round tunnels, which are brightly lit and are used for train storage. There is provision for extension of the line, as the tunnel ends are built to be easily removed. A plaque at the tunnel entrance commemorates Fairfax County. The station's entrances are at Huntington Avenue and Fenwick Drive, and also along Kings Highway, near Fort Drive. There is a large commuter parking lot, as well as a multi-level garage, with a total of 3,090 parking spaces available. Needless to say, this station is popular with Fairfax County commuters. Huntington station opened December 17, 1983.

Photo Gallery

Five Random Images
Image 21025 (66k, 744x494) Photo by: Wayne Whitehorne Location: Eisenhower Avenue	Image 21074 (109k, 744x497) Photo by: Wayne Whitehorne Location: Huntington	Image 21215 (93k, 749x496) Photo by: Wayne Whitehorne Location: Fenwick Bridge	Image 102030 (239k, 1044x705) Photo by: S.L. Peters Location: Huntington	Image 130379 (416k, 1044x698) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: Huntington