Metro board votes to automate Red Line fully with driverless trains

Published April 24, 2026 1:37pm ET | Updated April 24, 2026 1:37pm ET



Washington, D.C.’s Metro Board of Directors has voted to approve a plan to modernize the Metrorail Red Line fully and convert all its trains to driverless, automatic systems.

The board passed the fiscal 2027-2032 capital improvement program budget on Thursday, giving the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority the go-ahead to proceed with the $913 million “Red Line Modernization Project.”

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