Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 1, 2004
Metro customers take advantage of first week of 5 a.m. opening
This week marked the first time that the Metrorail system was open regularly at 5 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m. on weekdays, and the initial ridership figures point to this as being a popular new service as 30,000 people entered the rail system before 5:30 a.m. throughout the week. Ridership is expected to increase as customers become more familiar with the service.
Starting Monday, trains began service at 5 a.m. from the terminal stations (Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Franconia-Springfield, Huntington, Branch Avenue, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, New Carrollton, Greenbelt, Glenmont and Shady Grove) and as they made their way in town, the other stations opened along the way.
The new service, which costs the local jurisdictions only $723,000 for the year, offers customers traveling the longest distance on Metrorail an extra 30 minutes to ride each day. Peak fares are in effect from opening until 9:30 a.m.
Ridership Prior to 5:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept.27 | 5,852 |
| Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 6,091 |
| Wednesday, Sept.29 | 6,372 |
| Thursday, Sept. 30 | 6,185 |
| Friday, Oct. 1 | 5,834 |
| TOTAL | 30,334 |
News release issued on October 1, 2004.