Wheaton station (Washington Metro)

Wheaton station is a Washington Metro facility situated in Montgomery County, Maryland along the Red Line. Positioned at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) and Reedie Drive, it serves the community of Wheaton. Notably, the station is equipped with escalators that hold the distinction of being the longest single-span escalators in the Western Hemisphere.

The station commenced operations on September 22, 1990, initially acting as the northeastern endpoint of the Red Line until the extension to Glenmont was inaugurated in July 1998.

Beginning June 1, 2024, Wheaton and all Red Line stations north of Fort Totten were closed to facilitate construction for the forthcoming Purple Line. While Takoma resumed service on June 29, Wheaton and several other stations are scheduled to reopen on September 1, 2024.

Station layout

The station boasts the longest single-span escalators across the Western Hemisphere, each extending in length with a vertical height of . These escalators run at a speed of feet per minute and are set at a 30-degree incline, resulting in an approximate ride time of 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Accessibility is supported by two elevators located at the Reedie Drive parking garage entrance and an additional elevator connecting the mezzanine level to the platform serving trains bound for Shady Grove. While compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the station does not have redundant elevators; therefore, if the platform elevator is non-operational, disabled passengers must use shuttle services to access another station.

Distinct from most subterranean Metro stations, Wheaton—alongside Forest Glen station and the lower level of Fort Totten station—features separate tunnels and platforms for each travel direction rather than a shared central hall. This architectural choice was made to reduce costs given the considerable depth at which the station is constructed.