Silver Line Ride Along: Wiehle-Ballston (real time)

The full Silver Line ride, between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston, in real time with natural sound. Service begins July 26 at noon.

[@tanithrosenbaum]

A cab ride without music added to "improve" it, with full original sound, and full length real time without someone cutting out "the boring bits". Finally someone gets it. THANK YOU! Perfect!

[@LucarioFan550]

IKR

[@carmelozion7690]

Sorry to be off topic but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb forgot my account password. I would love any assistance you can offer me.

[@jaybruce514]

@Carmelo Zion Instablaster =)

[@carmelozion7690]

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[@carmelozion7690]

@Jay Bruce It worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out!

[@geraldgreen5371]

I like how they designed the train to run between the highways, so that when its backed up like in LA , you see exactly what your paying for. I also love the speed...in NYC we don't have that, we got other shyt!!!!

[@K1_Trains]

there are some places in nyc were the subways do go at fast speeds like that

[@Netbook451]

We could've had a line in the median of the Long Island Expy in the 70s but then the city went broke.

[@davidnissim589]

We have the same in SF

[@victort.4798]

There aren't that many median tracks in DC, mostly the ones you see in this video (Orange and Silver lines west of Ballston-MU). On the other side of the Potomac you don't really have expressways radiating out from the city. The Blue and Yellow Lines below Reagan Airport (except the portion of the Yellow Line from King St to Huntington) follow the CSX tracks, so they can be above ground. Most of the above ground portions on the MD/DC side also follow CSX tracks, such as the Red Line from Union Station to Silver Spring and from Twinbrook to Shady Grove, the Green and Yellow Lines from College Park to Greenbelt, and the Orange Line from Minnesota Ave to New Carrolton. Obviously there are exceptions, such as some of the farthest out portions of the Blue and Silver to Largo and the Green to Branch Ave, and a few elevated tracks in dense urban areas if there is a big highway underneath to build it over.

[@johnvargo7338]

@@victort.4798 National Airport

[@TripHacksDC]

Very cool POV that few Metro riders ever get to experience!

[@Rhacman]

Sometimes I find a train where the conductor is at the back. The door to the cab has two positions, one of which gives you access to two more passenger seats adjacent to the cab. A few times I've been able to sit there at the front of the train and enjoy the view (though you do have to sit awkwardly to make it work).

[@Rhacman]

@Zachary Potter If you have to open a door to get there I'd say no but the times I've sat there the door was in the position where you could just walk over and sit down. The door still seals off the control area, just opens up the seat adjacent to it.

[@PGHammer21A]

Wanna bet? The ride is similar to Vienna.

[@victort.4798]

@@Rhacman You actually saw the conductor at the back? I know most (or all) trains have a conductor's cab at both ends so they can switch directions without rotating the train, but I've never actually seen the conductor in the back cab. I think they have to be able to see in front

[@Rhacman]

​@@victort.4798 It's been a while so perhaps I was mistaken but I seem to recall I could see into the area where they would have been and didn't see anyone. Odd they'd have the door in the position where I could sit up front if they were in there. Perhaps I was sitting next to them and staring right at them without realizing it lol!

[@SuperWorldRailFanProductions]

It takes a total of 7 and a half minutes to get from Wiehle-Reston East to Spring Hill Stations. That is my favorite part of the Silver Line.

[@brian_brennan42]

SuperWorldFan360 long gap between McLean and EFC too

[@lolfunnycp]

its really hauling @$$ lol

[@LoveStallion]

Man is that a haul to Spring Hill.

[@victort.4798]

Longest in the system! 5.65 miles (at least for now, maybe the silver line extension will have longer ones)

[@Toast0808]

That’s what I thought too!

[@davidthaler7018]

Interesting to see the difference in trackage when the newer tracks of the Silver Line merge with the older tracks of the Orange Line as you approach E. Falls Church.

[@markydee48]

I would love to see more videos like these even if it's underground. DC's Metro is a crown jewel. That ride out to Dulles and beyond in the nearer future is gonna be quite long. It may require a trip to the bathroom before riding!

[@TSquared2001]

Imagine that

[@GILLIGFAN]

Would be nice if METRO Could take a page from some agencies and offer restrooms in a handful of stations or at least nearby Port-A-John’s

[@sleeken]

Maybe connect all their cabs in a safer way so we could have restrooms

[@hobog]

MORE CAB VIDS FOR REST OF METRO PLS

[@timothystark4475]

Yeah. I would love to watch cab ride videos on other entire lines like in NYC cab POV videos.

[@VidviewerV000]

0:00 Wiehle-Reston East 7:27 Spring Hill 8:52 Greensboro 10:35 Tysons Corner 11:56 McLean 18:15 East Falls Church 22:30 Ballston-MU

[@drrollercoaster4130]

Bakkkhggg

[@drrollercoaster4130]

🚇 silver line

[@drrollercoaster4130]

🚇 merges on orange line

[@mimoys11]

I wish Miami would build a true rail system like the metro.

[@Zarastroika]

+ira moyse But Miami already have··· Isn't the Metrorail?

[@w41duvernay]

Too bad you are under Republican rule. The don't believe in developing Mass Transit. Keep lobbying for it. We finally started working on it in the early 70's. DC was a mess before it. If Metro has to shut down, the Streets here in DC are a mess. I just wish we had done the extension lines in the 70's as well. This has been a God send.

[@markydee48]

too bad Miami didn't do things right because they could have had a Metro system twice the size of DC with all the open space Dade county has.

[@insertchannelnamehere8685]

@@markydee48 Because of the density required to support metro, more open space usually means a smaller metro system.

[@spider_hoss]

They're very similar in rolling stock to DC.

[@benjaminoconnor1687]

I like the concreted rail ties.

[@chrisc.6405]

Same.

[@hobog]

unlike the rotting wooden ties that line the rest of DC metro over ground

[@benjaminbrown3939]

16:14 very disturbing track condition.

[@victort.4798]

@@benjaminbrown3939 Yes, but it makes sense considering it opened in 1986. I actually think the metro rehabilitation project for that area in the last year or so involved new rail ties, but don't quote me on that

[@markschrock774]

The Metro is the best way to around the DC area, and the most enjoyable.

[@cps2204]

This is great! Can you guys do the same format for the rest of the system (like CTA does)?

[@wootnik]

super long gap between wiehle and spring hill

[@Salmagundiii]

There was talk of a stop at Wolf Trap, using the event parking lots during the day for commuter parking, but obviously that would be fraught with huge logistical problems. What if everyone decides to work late one day and there's a concert that night. Do you tow their cars or something?

[@wootnik]

Salmagundiii That is a problem, but how many times a year are there concerts? There would be a bigger benefit in using it the lots for commuters year-round, and just banning them on event days, I guess? It would be hard to enforce, but I trust that people would do the right thing in most cases. People would just have to find alternatives.

[@thosecoolvids1157]

Does it matter

[@pixelsandbacon]

It's the longest distance between any two stations on the network.

[@LIG87]

imagine having to lay all that track with pinpoint accuracy for that distance!!!

[@njadakaboles9999]

love it its music to my ears

[@elevatortoiletandtransitfa9258]

It is the train making drumrolling noises 🥁

[@SuperRip7]

It was worth 22 minutes and 42 seconds.

[@bebo2good1]

Great work! Can't wait to check out the SV, with also the 7000s.

[@HackleFlyer]

You guys should do more videos like this. How about a Red Line Video?

[@jayo1212]

@9:38 I wish the rest of the system's tunnels were that well lit!

[@thosecoolvids1157]

That light was the metro car headlights

[@lolfunnycp]

+jayo1212 some of new york's tunnels are 100% dark lol

[@ethancarter4388]

+ThoseCoolVids I don't think it was the metro's headlights. And +jayo1212 I dont think it was actually a tunnel at 9 minutes if that's what you mean. I think it was just a little thing dug in right under a building...well...a tunnel but not like the rest of them lol

[@kjrehberg]

It most certainly is a tunnel. It goes under the large hill in the middle of Tyson's Corner.

[@charonsferryold]

Always hated the low light in Metro tunnels

[@SchuminWeb]

What was with that siren sound as the train left Greensboro station? Was that a sound from Metro (like a fire alarm test or something), or is it from elsewhere?

[@petep4peace]

To me it sounded like a police siren coming from Rt. 7.

[@mvp2307]

No it was a siren that a train is coming into the tunnel so the trians wont have to honk their horn anymore!

[@SuperWorldRailFanProductions]

+JC SanK It's some type of alarm warning a train is coming, but operators would still have to honk.

[@lolfunnycp]

for anyone whos wondering it comes at around 9:00

[@justinballetta1269]

That siren sounds when a train passes it

[@Mr_Prospector_]

This should be exciting.

[@aznfriedrice415]

BART's Twin System

[@stargazer2504]

Look how new and clean the tunnel is. Wait 20 years for the brake dust (and other crap) to build up. It'll be like a coal mine.

[@robertmason7553]

Friggin awesome to watch. I was born in DC and i took a ride from Benning RD to wherever my cousin took me the day it opened. Now i live in NE and regularly deliver steel to the Kawasaki plant where they are building your new cars. Incredible plant and operation.

[@TrainSounds]

As the train left Greensboro, there was a siren and what was that supposed to be?

[@SuperWorldRailFanProductions]

To warn people in the tunnel that a train is coming.

[@3985uprr]

Do all of the lines in their entirety please.

[@KudaanDaGreat]

Reminds me of my home town Chicago max out at 55mph on the 95th Dan Ryan Red line , Eisehower and Kennedy Expwy Blue line Forest pk to O'Hare and Southwest corridor the Midway Orange line

[@hoodboyzAtl]

D.C Metro train go 70Mph Just like Marta in Atlanta

[@Reallynow101]

Qam Yasharahla 59mph except green line 65mph on certain stretches

[@kristianjelm6900]

So cool

[@3985uprr]

In New York City they have someone who closes the doors plus the operator and that saves time. It kind of drives me nuts that there’s a delay between the time the doors close and the time the train moves and a delay between the time the train stops and the train doors open. in New York City it happens immediately. I guess it saves on labor costs but it can slow the ride a bit over time. Well the Metro Trains travel at a higher speed than the New York subway so I guess it balances out.

[@timothystark4475]

I love to watch POV cab ride with this new silver line from Wiehle to Ballston. I hope to watch that POV video until Largo (end of silver line). I had watched many POV cab ride videos on NYC subway system and CSX railways.

[@jessewatson3850]

smooth ride

[@benjaminbrown3939]

Up until you merge with the orange line

[@easonmurphree4353]

please make more

[@cts3696]

9:01 why do I hear a police siren?

[@fbernard08]

This is great...when will the silver line extension be completed!

[@benjaminoconnor1687]

fbernard08 by 2022

[@dreamyyx_3762]

@@benjaminoconnor1687 You stated the year that Potomac Yard Metro is expected to open

[@stickmen7117]

7:00 it sounds like a star wars plane

[@raymondrodriguez45]

They only recorded it to Ballston because the rest of the line is ghetto, dark and loud all the way to Maryland.

[@stickmen7117]

terry jay not really, i live near glenmont station and its really nice there... if only they cleaned up the station

[@lawrencelu1876]

I did know that the Silver Line metro is extending and coming to Dulles Airport as well as Loudoun through Reston and Herndon area, but the problem as well as my concern is that it's very long and slow. The speed, etc with the Metro trains is slow. In my opinion, the Silver Line Metro coming to DC from Loudoun area is too much time and it's too slow.

[@charonsferryold]

Rockville is actually really nice, now that it exists

[@stargazer2504]

"ghetto, dark"... I see what you did there.

[@josephlopez4871]

I took this train everyday while attending Georgetown...before I left VA they were almost finished extending the line past Dulles Int.

[@JohnSulu14]

The phase 2 stations look near done, but it has been taking forever and ever for them to open for passenger service.

[@yilibobchris]

I ride the second train of the silver line!

[@William_sJazzLoft]

As long as the ride to Dulles evidently is, it does seem like this train ought to be going much faster than the vehicles on the freeway

[@ethancarter4388]

+smoothjazzaxe They're going like 55mph

[@404-d1t]

+Ethan Carter (EliteTech) You should see NYC, they almost had to cut speed limits in HALF.

[@ethancarter4388]

+404Gaming wow that's slow lol

[@mattwardpictures]

+smoothjazzaxe To say nothing of Virginia's general attitude on speed...

[@hoodboyzAtl]

@@ethancarter4388 No they go 70Mph Just like Marta in Atlanta

[@relorzen]

My nearest station is Huntington main area

[@aaronmanchester3194]

9:01 What's the siren for? Is it alerting that there is another train ahead or something?

[@dcd19844]

SAME I WAS WONDERING TOO

[@jordanfgfox7237]

As a person that lives near by the Tysons station I still dk why it's been used for

[@srinip]

Loved it!!

[@jg-7780]

I'd love to see this for the whole system!

[@alext442]

Nice ride. We need that in the Chi.

[@beebeesfuntasticadventures6110]

so beautiful.

[@derrickwilson7467]

Excellent! Thanks!

[@elevatortoiletandtransitfa9258]

10:31 The train sounds like an engine or machine shutting down

[@erikhyrkas2955]

This is a bit zen.

[@hrysivjt67]

Did you guys really tape this on a car with a dead spot?! Wow.

[@susankuhn9426]

There will always be something magical about trains. This is enchanting.

[@andrewlikestrains4138]

Are you guys going to do something similar for Phase 2 of the Silver Line?

[@TSquared2001]

Where did that siren come from?

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

Which timestamp did you find the Siren in?

[@FordEscape12345678]

@@S-CB-SL-Animations 9:02

[@jayo1212]

Is this taken from a 7000 series train? I like these Ride Alongs MetroForward ! I'd like to see you do one of the rest of the trip to Largo, and maybe one of the Yellow Line, too!

[@FanRailer]

no. this was an Alstom powered car, most likely a 6000 series.

[@benjaminoconnor1687]

No, it was not taken from a 7,000-series train.

[@justinballetta1269]

This video might have also been taken from a 2000 or 3000 series railcar

[@AllAmericanRailfan]

Hope there will be a new video when Phase II opens up!

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Is that Washington DC Metro?

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

Yep

[@benjaminbrown3939]

16:11 Returning to regular shit tracks in 3, 2, 1. Metro really needs to replace these with concrete ties.

[@videonut1988]

Metro was built in the mid 70s before concrete ties were mainstream. That’s why the “regular shit tracks”.

[@khroe]

I think that car has flats on it.

[@njadakaboles9999]

oh this thing is hauling butt

[@petterzachrisson6500]

Interesting to discover the DC metro system. To me, as a European, it looks more like a commuter rail similar to the Paris RER. More an more European commuter rail networks are connected with tunnels through the city centers... combining speed with connectivity.

[@xavierdomenico]

That is because this video is showing the metro going out to the suburbs. The metro from Ballston (Arlington) into DC is much more like a traditional subway system.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

In the inner portions, this very much acts a bit more like a subway system, much like the RER or S-Bahn type systems. That is very much what this system is, in essence.

[@PGHammer21A]

Since this was filmed, the entire Silver Line is now in operation from Reston to Lanham. The Silver Line shares track with the Orange Line from East Falls Church to Armory - Audi Field, and with the Blue Line from there to Lanham.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

You mean Stadium-Armory and Largo Town Center?

[@DugEphresh]

Garbage POV, edit it so we know WTF!

[@kellandbailey2970]

wonder why they elected to use footage from a train with flat spots...

[@kjrehberg]

The spare test train is spare for a reason.

[@LIG87]

what are those long, rectangular things in between the tracks @ 21:13??

[@justinballetta1269]

Those are either rails or third rails

[@LIG87]

thanks

[@benjaminbrown3939]

They are pieces of broken third rail protection, but they have been fixed.

[@FeartheCyr611]

What was the siren at 9:00 for?

[@dcd19844]

SAME I WAS WONDERING THAT TOO

[@desalpagesgator4988]

Infrastructure démesurée pour un trafic voyageur inexistant, un gaspillage financier énorme.

[@usstiger_cd4165]

do you know how fast the average speed is?

[@CharlotteDrillsAndBeefs]

Like 40 - 30 in local dc tunnels. 50 - 60 in far distances like the first one. I think it goes 100 mph

[@Reallynow101]

Max is 59mph except certain stretches on Green L

[@robertgreen6492]

Thd silver line is a slow moving train. Every auto passed it on the highway.

[@jameshiroki1]

Robert Green Metro train operations are restricted to 59MPH, the trains normal operating speed is up to 75MPH

[@mrrobot5963]

@@jameshiroki1 Ever since 2009 right

[@Reallynow101]

Limited to 59mph every where except parts of the green line where speeds are 65mph. But speed commands lower all the time depending on what’s going on.

[@kjrehberg]

I've timed it to be over 65 MPH on the Silver and Orange Lines. The car drivers are speeding.

[@CharlotteDrillsAndBeefs]

What about the cars behind?

[@franklinshaffer2382]

Flat spot on wheel

[@karenholmes2764]

Five seconds to get on or off. Reminds me of a bus I took in Guadalajara.

[@papadop]

As a lifelong Boston resident, this makes me envious. Wish our subway infrastructure was as good to allow those high speeds.

[@PhillyFan20]

So how does terminating at Wiehle work? I didn't notice a crossover near the station.

[@DarkEnzanArikado]

I would guess either one before the station or it relays even deeper in the future route with a crossover at some point.

[@khroe]

There is a pocket track on the other side.

[@PhillyFan20]

khroe It still seems like a bizarre engineering decision. The lack of a crossover will require all trains to offload at the platform to reverse. A pocket track is designed to allow trains to short turn (i.e. Red line). Since Wiehle will be a terminal, a crossover should've been designed on the inbound side. Perhaps it was due to budget costs.

[@DarkEnzanArikado]

PhillyFan20 Well it is a temporary terminal at most so I guess they felt like the the pocket track is fine which generally it is since at least the hope is the line will extend pass this stop some point within our lifetimes.

[@DaWolf805]

PhillyFan20 If you think about it, the pocket track on the opposite side allows space for four trains to wait at the end of the line, and is a crossover, all in one - while remaining useful after Wiehle is no longer a terminus. It does require trains to take a bit more time to reverse, but that's not unheard of - take, for example, the Ashmont terminus of the Red Line in Boston. I think it's pretty well-designed, personally.

[@cats0182]

The cars on the highway at the right are traveling fast4er than the train? Figures.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Cats01 Wait until Rush hours. It’s a different story.

[@kevinhoward9593]

Why are the cars on the highway beating this train? are they built for 80mph running?

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Kevin Howard Wait till rush hours. Then you’ll see a whole different story.

[@benjaminbrown3939]

The trains move at around 55 mph

[@CharlotteDrillsAndBeefs]

Even the bus is lmao

[@leatherman88ch]

I think it was on automatic Train control that's why I was flying so fast

[@tubeman2010]

Chris Hoff Unfortunately, there are currently no DC Metro lines running automatically.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

@@tubeman2010 Correction! Mclean-Reston-East Runs on ATC. So will phase 2 when it opens this year

[@tubeman2010]

@@dreamyyx_3762 The entire system is under ATC, of which ATO is a subsystem; and, currently, there are no lines on the DC Metro system that are utilizing ATO. It's also doubtful that the Silver Line Phase 2 will run ATO, because even if it's working, there are hundreds of operators with no experience with ATO. Training must come first.

[@Reallynow101]

No ATO at the moment. No plans for ATO either.

[@louiszhang3050]

That’s what tysons corner looked like before? How times have changed.

[@martinbreslow1401]

We need a video on how to recognize the elevator building you just parked in. The levels have the same numbering Gn n 1 to 8 or 1 to 6, I forget. #Wiehle

[@k.h.4698]

I am all in support of public transit, but this video doesn’t sell the concept very well. The relatively little traffic (that there is) is going a lot faster than the train. Why would anybody need this extension line? It seems the money would have been better spent in a more populated corridor where mobility is virtually at a standstill on the surface.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

That traffic was midday traffic, not rush hour

[@justinballetta1269]

Did anyone notice the 2 flashes at 9:35?

[@benjaminbrown3939]

Electric arcing on the third rail.

[@victort.4798]

It’s a flash of electricity relating to the connection between the train and the third rail when it crosses between third rail segments I believe

[@sleeken]

I never ride this thing cus who rides a metro to Reston?

[@blackdemonevo9]

Now can you guys do this for phase 2 soon

[@Delta922]

I will never ride DC metrorail again. The service sucks, security is insufficient, attendants are rude and the trains are disgusting. Crackheads even do and deal illegal drugs in the trains and on the platforms.

[@swampfoxIX]

But still 1000x better than most subway systems.

[@drnubian1]

cars are just whizzing by speed is slow...test run

[@lolfunnycp]

+howardkevinm just be glad its not the new york subway which goes like 35 lol

[@kjrehberg]

Hahah, no, BART doesn't go 80 MPH. It's limited to 70 MPH because they designed the braking system incorrectly. Washington Metro goes up to 75 MPH. This Silver Line train goes up to 65 MPH when I measured it yesterday.

[@lolfunnycp]

Kris Rehberg 68mph was the fastest i saw on the bart's speedometer lol

[@baetsimpson]

Kris Rehberg I have heard of Metro going full speed out near EFC a while ago.

[@spacepeanut]

weird cut at 16:54, not sure why it's there...

[@rockvilleraven]

Metro is full of BS, first you say you don't have the money to fix up the system, but you have money to run ads for the Silver Line. If I took over Metro, I'd cut the radio/tv/print ads and use it to fix up there rest of the system.

[@hobog]

The airport authority is building the silver line tracks, actually

[@TheRailLeaguer]

rockvilleraven That joke is getting too old.

[@justinballetta1269]

The siren at 9:01 is just weird

[@hobog]

16:04 return to regular shit tracks in 3, 2, 1, ...

[@benjaminbrown3939]

Good one!!!

[@sandal_thong8631]

Playback x2, baby.

[@ma-ge-mel4907]

That’s awesome ❤😂

[@Gregq96]

Why is it so slow??

[@LeprousThang]

where are the people?

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Terry Winslow It wasn’t open yet.

[@dongshuowu3454]

What was the top speed of the train?

[@Reallynow101]

59mph

[@trainrover]

Why do most American cities look so desolate? Yet another example here of how ghostly American roadways and transit stops more often appear around that country..oh well.

[@lazamair]

trainrover cities like Tysons Corner show the most traffic during the morning and evening commutes. True they appear desolate, but by no means are they ghostly.

[@chrizizdaman]

I lived in Reston and Tysons this video looks like it was taking on an early Sunday morning! During the week and later in the day on the weekend is busy! DC is a very populated city and this is more or less outskirts in Virginia

[@chrizizdaman]

+lazamair come let me take you on a ride up Dulles toll road to 66 to the Capital Belt way thru the Springfield mixing bowl up 395 in to DC this Monday morning!!lol

[@dreamyyx_3762]

@trainrover Hey! Are you from Britain? You like like on of thoses dumass people who think britain is better than everything so shut up

[@DeryaBaygan-Robinett]

huh i thought it was gonna be for 3 hours cause of delays and single tracking. this must be set up.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

It was a new line that wasn’t open to passenger service at the time of filming so no delays.

[@DeryaBaygan-Robinett]

so it was a set up!

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Derya Baygan-Robinett No.

[@DeryaBaygan-Robinett]

ok then.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Derya Baygan-Robinett Then lets stop spreading this conspiracy that things are being set up.

[@ArinGokdemir]

How long before it falls apart?

[@benjaminbrown3939]

But the rest of the system is actually falling apart right now!

[@egorleschev]

9:00 WTF?

[@MrMKH2010]

No one go on board or go off, so there was no reason to wait.

[@DJeimaXe]

It is a clearance alert.

[@kjrehberg]

It's the building emergency alert at the station. I heard the same alarm go off at Whiele-Reston the other day, followed by a recorded announcement.

[@juniors2sexy]

Can somebody tell me where are the signals at ?

[@juniors2sexy]

Can someone explain to me where are the signals how do they know how to operate

[@Reallynow101]

Signals are before interlockings and training is how they know

[@juniors2sexy]

Where are the signals Omg runaway train 😂😂