Takoma station
| Company type | Washington Metro station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | February 6, 1978 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington Metro Red Line |
Takoma station serves as a Washington Metro stop on the Red Line, positioned within the Takoma neighborhood of Washington, D.C., adjacent to the city boundary near Takoma Park, Maryland. It is situated inside the Takoma Park Historic District and represents the easternmost Red Line station inside the District of Columbia before the line crosses into Maryland. The station is found just east of the intersection of Blair Road NW and Cedar Street NW, with parking facilities and bus connections accessible from Eastern Avenue NW along the DC–Maryland border.
History
Prior to the establishment of Metrorail, commuter rail service in the area was provided by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), which operated trains serving locations within the District, including Takoma Park. This legacy continues today through the MARC system's Brunswick Line, with its closest stop located in Silver Spring, Maryland. The commuter rail service ceased before Metrorail commenced operations, and the original shelter was removed to allow expansion of the track corridor for Metrorail infrastructure. Vestiges of the former Takoma Park B&O station can still be seen to the west of the current Metro facility. Notably, the original Takoma Park railroad station in Washington, D.C., was destroyed by fire in 1962.
Construction of the Metrorail facility began in the early 1970s and incorporated architectural features typical of above-ground stations throughout the system. Takoma was among the earliest stations to open following Metrorail's initial launch on March 27, 1976, with service commencing at Takoma on February 6, 1978.
In late 2017, from November 25 through December 10, Takoma station was temporarily closed as part of Metro's Capital Improvement Program, which involved track replacement and maintenance activities.
The station underwent another closure from June 1 to June 28, 2024, to support construction efforts related to the Purple Line project.
On June 22, 2009, a collision occurred between a southbound Red Line train and another stationary train located between Takoma and Fort Totten stations. This incident stands as the most fatal accident in Washington Metro history.
Station layout
Access to Takoma station is provided at street level via an entrance that leads to escalators descending to the platform. Additionally, there is a separate accessible entrance equipped with an elevator positioned near the middle of the platform. This design—separating accessible and general entrances—is relatively rare in the Washington Metro network, shared only by , Ballston-MU, Judiciary Square, and stations. The facility adheres to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, when the elevator is non-operational, wheelchair users cannot access the station; in such cases, shuttle services are arranged to transport passengers to adjacent stations.
Similar to NoMa-Gallaudet U, , , and , Takoma station is located along CSX’s Metropolitan Subdivision railway corridor. It features an island platform flanked by two tracks—Metro trains operate on the inner pair while Amtrak and MARC Train services utilize outer tracks.
External links
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Takoma Station
- Articles with short description
- 1978 establishments in Maryland
- Buildings and structures in Takoma Park, Maryland
- Stations on the Red Line (Washington Metro)
- Railway stations in Montgomery County, Maryland
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1978
- Takoma (Washington, D.C.)
- Washington Metro stations in Washington, D.C.
- Former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stations