L'Enfant Plaza station
| Company type | Transportation hub |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 1, 1977 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area |
| Products | Rapid transit, Commuter rail |
L'Enfant Plaza station is a multimodal transportation hub located at L'Enfant Plaza within Washington, D.C.'s Southwest Federal Center. This facility comprises an underground station for the Washington Metro rapid transit system and an elevated commuter rail stop served by the Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
The Metro portion of the station began operations on July 1, 1977, functioning as a major transfer point. It is distinctive in that it accommodates five out of the six Metro lines: the Green and Yellow lines run on two side platforms situated on the upper level, while the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines utilize an island platform located on the lower level. In 2023, this station was ranked seventh in ridership across the system, with an average daily entry figure of 7,506.
The VRE segment consists of one side platform aligned with the northernmost track among three on the RF&P Subdivision. This platform serves both the Manassas Line and Fredericksburg Line routes.
Station layout
Situated in the Southwest Federal Center neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, DC, the station complex is centered near 7th Street SW and D Street SW. The Metro station itself features three distinct levels: a fare mezzanine; an upper tier hosting two side platforms for the Yellow and Green Lines; and a lower tier containing a single island platform serving the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. The upper north-south level extends from C Street to E Street, whereas the lower east-west level stretches between 9th and 6th Streets. Access points include entrances at the concourse of the L'Enfant Plaza shopping mall (near 9th and D Streets), along D Street between 6th and 7th Streets, and at Maryland Avenue adjacent to 7th Street. Plans exist for potential future additions of further head houses.
The VRE platform is positioned on the north side of three tracks comprising the RF&P Subdivision, elevated above Virginia Avenue SW between 6th and 7th Streets SW. Entry to this platform is available via stairways at both 6th and 7th Streets and a ramp originating from C Street west of 7th Street. While most Amtrak intercity trains bypass this station, several Northeast Regional trains stop here to accommodate VRE passengers through a ticket reciprocity arrangement.
Metro station
The lower level of the Metro station commenced service on July 1, 1977, coinciding with the opening of the initial Blue Line segment connecting and . Orange Line trains began stopping here on November 20, 1978, following an extension to . The upper level was inaugurated on April 30, 1983, to serve Yellow Line trains; subsequently, Green Line service was introduced on May 11, 1991. The Silver Line started operating at this lower-level platform on July 26, 2014. The Maryland Avenue entrance was temporarily closed for approximately seven months starting May 9, 2022, to facilitate escalator replacement.
L'Enfant Plaza station attracted nationwide attention due to a Pulitzer Prize-winning article published in 2007 by The Washington Post journalist Gene Weingarten, which chronicled violinist Joshua Bell performing anonymously during peak commuting hours. On January 12, 2015, smoke incidents within the station led to an evacuation resulting in one fatality. Furthermore, a scene from the film Wonder Woman 1984 was shot here in June 2018.
VRE station
Local train service along 7th Street was operated by the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad until the mid-1950s. In the early 1990s, Virginia Railway Express constructed a new station facility here, launching service on the Manassas Line beginning June 22, 1992, followed shortly by commencement of service on the Fredericksburg Line on July 20. L'Enfant Plaza functions as the northern endpoint for approximately 40% of VRE trips.
A municipal report released in 2010 explored various strategies for expanding this station’s capacity, including extending MARC Train operations from Union Station either to L'Enfant or Alexandria. In 2021, VRE initiated projects to replace the current side platform with an island platform and add a fourth track to enhance capacity and increase service frequency.