I can see what people mean when they say they need an express run. Perhaps from Dulles with stops only at the connectors: East Falls Church, Rosslyn, Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza and Stadium-Armory (maybe Downtown Largo).
@@BabyBang17datruth Adding a third track will be next to impossible now...if express trains are run on existing tracks they may get stuck behind the regular service trains...no good options at this moment.
@@BabyBang17datruth You can't really run an express train on the current track. It will just get stuck at every station behind the next train in front of it. As it is, this will provide excellent-to-good service for folks coming in to visit or work in Herndon/Reston and Tyson's, and OK service to the Arlington area - which should serve a non-trivial number of people. It should also provide great service for IAD workers who live in the same areas, plus Ashburn. If you need to get downtown, you should still be flying into DCA whenever possible.
@@Brashnir Does the DC metro have holding tracks like in between every other station? If coordinated right, that can be used to move express trains faster.
I am going to have to do this exact route from IAD to DCA in September. My flight to CLT is from DCA. Your video was very helpful and will watch it again.
I moved to Arlington from outside the area in August of last year. The derailing really diminished my opinion of the metro--in spite of all of its problems I can't imagine the MTA running into this problem in New York. I am really encouraged to see the metro expanding just a year after moving here though--especially because I live off of the Orange/SIlver!! First thing I did after work on Nov 15 was get on that train and ride it to Dulles. There's so much incredible new construction going on in the entire DC area, it's really encouraging to see.
Now (November 2022) the Blue line goes to some different stations because of track work on the Yellow line. All Blue trains should go through DCA from Rosslyn, but check before you board.
> First Day of the new 'Dulles Airport Subway' and You and 'penquinsix' are one of the First on the train. ~ Well done. ~ A link from penguinsix to your....Path Less Traveled. ~ Good Luck.
Happy Silver Line opening! Great video. I guessed it would be an hour between airports and looks like I just about hit it on the head. This will come in handy for standby travelers who say check bags to DCA but end up on a flight to IAD and have to get between the airports to pick up the luggage. This actually happened to me Nov. 13, 2 days before the Silver Line Extension opened.
@@pathlesstraveled I fly standby with Mom's airline retiree pass. Checked in YUL-EWR-IAD but EWR-IAD was full and next WAS flight was to DCA, which had a seat open for me. Then had to do Blue Line to Silver Line to Silver Line Express bus to pick up my checked bag at IAD.
It's always about the money. I'm sure that the Silver Line cost more than originally budgeted, so "extras" line a third set of rails was omitted. It might still be possible to build bypass tracks at some stations, but retrofitting like that is always expensive.
Keep in mind remote workers are still at home. I remember when Rosslyn was jam packed at rush hour and trains would be so full that people had to wait for several to pass by.
@@AlexanderSpear yeah well you’re probably not a local. And if you are a local and you still like the name, then you’re probably a Republican. And I don’t speak to stupid people.
Depending on the origin airport, United has some bookings where you arrive into Raegan Airport (DCA) and then continue your journey out of Dulles or vice versa. For example we found a (weird) bookable routing from Frankfurt to Newark with an an initial arrival into Washington Dulles (IAD), Transfer to Raegan National (DCA) then fly to Newark form DCA. Bizarre routing? yes, but technically possible.
@@pathlesstraveled How long was the time between landing at IAD and boarding at DCA? And did you actually book this with United? Or was it through some third party site?
Hi! Great video! I'm from Brazil and I need to do that next month. Which SmartTrip card should I buy, and how much money will it cost me to make this trip? Thanks!
I believe we paid $3.85, We are heading down next week to DC, and will be doing this route so we will get an exact cost and follow back up! If you wouldn’t mind please send us an email at info@pltraveled.com
I'm traveling from DCA to IAD. Where do I buy my ticket and are the trains to DCA marked? Can you do another video of where you get your tickets, how to get to the platforms , where to turn ect. Thank you
Hi Ramsay, The three major airlines as well as some of the low cost carriers have connections that require you to change airports between IAD and DCA, they also do it in New York between LGA and JFK.
I can see what people mean when they say they need an express run. Perhaps from Dulles with stops only at the connectors: East Falls Church, Rosslyn, Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza and Stadium-Armory (maybe Downtown Largo).
So just add an express run train on the existing tracks or add a third track?
@@BabyBang17datruth Adding a third track will be next to impossible now...if express trains are run on existing tracks they may get stuck behind the regular service trains...no good options at this moment.
@@BabyBang17datruth You can't really run an express train on the current track. It will just get stuck at every station behind the next train in front of it.
As it is, this will provide excellent-to-good service for folks coming in to visit or work in Herndon/Reston and Tyson's, and OK service to the Arlington area - which should serve a non-trivial number of people. It should also provide great service for IAD workers who live in the same areas, plus Ashburn.
If you need to get downtown, you should still be flying into DCA whenever possible.
@@Brashnir Does the DC metro have holding tracks like in between every other station? If coordinated right, that can be used to move express trains faster.
@@Brashnir Most people coming into DC still fly into Dulles because of the direct flights available at Dulles which are much less at National.
I am going to have to do this exact route from IAD to DCA in September. My flight to CLT is from DCA. Your video was very helpful and will watch it again.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
Ty so much! Your via was right on time. Thought we had to do uber.
I am happy to hear, it for sure makes it easier!
It's a very helpful video. Thank you.
Thank you for the video. This perfectly addressed my concerns.
I moved to Arlington from outside the area in August of last year. The derailing really diminished my opinion of the metro--in spite of all of its problems I can't imagine the MTA running into this problem in New York.
I am really encouraged to see the metro expanding just a year after moving here though--especially because I live off of the Orange/SIlver!!
First thing I did after work on Nov 15 was get on that train and ride it to Dulles. There's so much incredible new construction going on in the entire DC area, it's really encouraging to see.
What did you think of ride?
Just used your video as a guide for this exact journey and it worked out perfectly, many thanks for posting this.
Glad it helped! Were you connecting between airports for flights?
Same here!
Now (November 2022) the Blue line goes to some different stations because of track work on the Yellow line. All Blue trains should go through DCA from Rosslyn, but check before you board.
Thanks for this tip Simon!, it is always best to check before you board, we could not recommend that enough!
I had to let my family know since they are taking the metro to the airport
Terrific video and trip!
Thank you!! It sure was!
@@pathlesstraveled Yep! You're Welcome!
> First Day of the new 'Dulles Airport Subway' and You and 'penquinsix' are one of the First on the train. ~ Well done. ~
A link from penguinsix to your....Path Less Traveled. ~ Good Luck.
Thank you! We appreciate, we are happy to have you onboard!
Happy Silver Line opening! Great video. I guessed it would be an hour between airports and looks like I just about hit it on the head.
This will come in handy for standby travelers who say check bags to DCA but end up on a flight to IAD and have to get between the airports to pick up the luggage. This actually happened to me Nov. 13, 2 days before the Silver Line Extension opened.
Thanks for the comments! Yikes!!! How did that happen?
@@pathlesstraveled I fly standby with Mom's airline retiree pass. Checked in YUL-EWR-IAD but EWR-IAD was full and next WAS flight was to DCA, which had a seat open for me.
Then had to do Blue Line to Silver Line to Silver Line Express bus to pick up my checked bag at IAD.
I am shocked they didn’t build Dulles with a third track through the station like DCA
I've never seen the center track used at DCA. No idea why it's there.
@@lewnwdc I have
It's always about the money. I'm sure that the Silver Line cost more than originally budgeted, so "extras" line a third set of rails was omitted. It might still be possible to build bypass tracks at some stations, but retrofitting like that is always expensive.
@@lewnwdc it’s used very occasionally, I’ve seen it
@@chineselemonkitty717 Any theory why is there?
Keep in mind remote workers are still at home. I remember when Rosslyn was jam packed at rush hour and trains would be so full that people had to wait for several to pass by.
ahhh the escalator at rosslyn --my kids and i love that high ass escalator
It's great!
It still grinds my gears to hear people call it “Reagan.” It’s “National” or DCA
Yeah, pisses me off when people call me by my first name too.
@@AlexanderSpear yeah well you’re probably not a local. And if you are a local and you still like the name, then you’re probably a Republican. And I don’t speak to stupid people.
What airline makes you switch airports? I've never heard of that. I could see doing it on your own to save money though.
Depending on the origin airport, United has some bookings where you arrive into Raegan Airport (DCA) and then continue your journey out of Dulles or vice versa. For example we found a (weird) bookable routing from Frankfurt to Newark with an an initial arrival into Washington Dulles (IAD), Transfer to Raegan National (DCA) then fly to Newark form DCA. Bizarre routing? yes, but technically possible.
@@pathlesstraveled How long was the time between landing at IAD and boarding at DCA? And did you actually book this with United? Or was it through some third party site?
@@ISpitHotFiyaa We did not take this flight, but yes, you can book it directly on United's website. Very bizarre routing!
Google maps says to stop at Foggy Bottom-GWU, will that work too instead of Rosslyn ?
Hi! Great video! I'm from Brazil and I need to do that next month. Which SmartTrip card should I buy, and how much money will it cost me to make this trip? Thanks!
Are you trying to get from IAD to the city, or DCA? Thank you for your compliments!
@@pathlesstraveled to DCA. Thanks!
I believe we paid $3.85, We are heading down next week to DC, and will be doing this route so we will get an exact cost and follow back up! If you wouldn’t mind please send us an email at info@pltraveled.com
I'm traveling from DCA to IAD. Where do I buy my ticket and are the trains to DCA marked? Can you do another video of where you get your tickets, how to get to the platforms , where to turn ect. Thank you
Very few have to make connection between the two airports. It's not structured that way.
Wait. Dulles is already done?
Yes it opened on 11/15/22
How you get that SmarTrip card design
It was a special for the launching of the Silver Line Extension
@@pathlesstraveled dangit. if they sold it in that style but for the other lines that would of been dope.
@@nortorioustxc4359 That would have been, we got ours at the Dulles station for the Silver Line, I am not sure if they still have them or not
As a resident I'm gonna guess 1 1/2 hours
A little shorter!
Too bad they're getting rid of the cards. I don't like using my phone for this.
0:19
What a horrible place... I hope I never have to go to the DC area for any reason ever.
Have you ever been to DC?
Why would someone have a need to go from IAD to DCA? Not a practical video.
Hi Ramsay,
The three major airlines as well as some of the low cost carriers have connections that require you to change airports between IAD and DCA, they also do it in New York between LGA and JFK.