Ashburn station (Washington Metro)
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 15, 2022 |
| Headquarters | Loudoun County, Virginia , United States |
Area served | Loudoun County, Virginia; Washington metropolitan area |
| Products | Metro rail service (Silver Line) |
Ashburn station serves as the western endpoint of the Silver Line on the Washington Metro network, located within Loudoun County, Virginia. Although initially scheduled for a 2016 debut, the station officially commenced operations on November 15, 2022.
Positioned in the median of the Dulles Greenway (SR 267) just east of Old Ryan Road (SR 772), Ashburn stands as the most distant station from Washington's downtown area. The facility includes two pedestrian overpasses that link both sides of the Dulles Greenway and provides bus bays alongside kiss-and-ride areas on each side. Comstock Companies and Loudoun County manage two parking garages on the north and south sides, respectively, together offering a total of 3,300 parking spots. Additional provisions include 51 bicycle racks and five secure bike lockers situated at the northern entrance.
History
Conceived in the 21st century, the Silver Line was designed to establish a rail connection between Washington, D.C. and Washington Dulles International Airport, extending service to nearby edge cities such as Tysons, Reston, Herndon, and Ashburn. Constructed in two segments, Phase 1 linked Washington, D.C., to , launching in 2014. Concurrently, planning and financing efforts for Phase 2 aimed at reaching Dulles Airport proceeded. In 2012, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted to approve extending the line into Loudoun County and Dulles Airport. The contract for Phase 2 was awarded in April 2013 with a value of $1.177 billion.
By April 2015, project leaders postponed the Phase 2 opening to late 2019 due to enhanced stormwater management standards and requirements for upgraded automated train control systems. Around this period, WMATA confirmed Loudoun County's selected name for the station, replacing its initial planning designation "Route 772."
As of August 2019, completion was anticipated by mid-2020; however, subsequent delays pushed the expected opening first to early 2021 and then to late 2021. In February 2021, WMATA announced that approximately five months of testing would be necessary prior to commencing service. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) aimed for substantial completion by Labor Day 2021 but did not meet this target.
In November 2021, MWAA declared that rail construction was "substantially complete," with WMATA estimating an additional five months required for testing and final preparations. Simulated service operations for Phase 2 began in October 2022. The line extension officially started service on November 15, 2022.