ARLINGTON, Va. — So far it has happened with every train that arrives at Metro’s Blue Line station at Arlington National Cemetery — passengers are surprised to learn the ride ends here.
With Blue Line travel limited to the eight stops between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cemetery, some passengers don’t realize the train won’t continue to Rosslyn, or any of the stops in the District or Maryland.
From my observations, many of the passengers who end up here by mistake aren’t native English speakers. Some passengers were wearing headphones, and others were absorbed in a newspaper.
Operators on the train I rode on advised riders often they needed to transfer to the Yellow Line between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon stops because Blue service would end at Arlington.
Metro employees are positioned on the platform at Arlington Cemetery to give directions to passengers who didn’t expect their rides to end here.
Some passengers choose to get back on the Blue Line and go back one stop to Pentagon, where they can transfer to the Yellow Line, and ride to L’Enfant Plaza, where they can again transfer to the Orange or Silver Line.
Other passengers decide to walk 15 minutes to Rosslyn, rather than retrace their steps.
Passengers at Arlington Cemetery told Blue Line ending here. Some wearing headphones, others not English speakers. pic.twitter.com/jpzT7xhPKn
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 20, 2016
Passengers surprised they have to get off at Arlington Cemetery get help from friendly Metro employee. #SafeTrack pic.twitter.com/r64p6dguWT
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 20, 2016
“You can go back to Pentagon, take Yellow to LEnfant, then OR to Rosslyn.” He decided to walk. #SafeTrack pic.twitter.com/FDFMv2AN8S
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 20, 2016
