Passenger

Automatic Train Operation (ATO) Used On WMATA Red Line Cannot Be Expanded To Other WMATA Lines For Time Being (Updated and Corrected 4/18/25)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has directed WMATA to not expand the use of Automatic Train Operation beyond the Red Line for the time being. OUR ORIGINAL STORY FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK HAD A COUPLE OF ERRORS AROUND REFERENCES TO AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION AND AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL. WE REGRET THE ERRORS AND APPRECIATE WMATA POINTING THEM OUT. THESE ERRORS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND THE STORY UPDATED. MOST READERS LIKELY KNOW THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL AND AUTOMATIC TRAIN OPERATION. FOR A FULL DEFINITION OF EACH, READERS ARE REFERRED TO THE INTERTECH RAIL WEBSITE LISTED AT THE END OF THE STORY. DCL