Read more coverage on the Silver Line

When Metro and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority built the 20-mile Silver Line extension from East Falls Church to Ashburn, they didn’t build a third or fourth track for true express train service mainly because of cost and space restrictions.

In New York and other places, a third track allows trains to skip multiple stations and jump ahead of local trains that stop more regularly. For instance, a three-track version of the Silver Line might have an express train originating in Ashburn with stops at Dulles Airport, Tysons, East Falls Church, Rosslyn, and Metro Center. Six stops instead of 22.

But Metro is looking at timing trains to create an “express” train that shaves five to six minutes off the total trip. Metro says an express train could only catch up with a train in front of it, not pass it, so it would have to time things correctly for it to work.

“We are looking to improve service time to the (Dulles International) airport and new Silver Line phase two, recognizing the long travel time from downtown and other parts of the system,” Metro’s head of planning Tom Webster told board members at a board meeting last month.” There’s potentially some value here, but more work and analysis to do on potential options.”

The example that Webster presented at the meeting shows express trains that skip Spring Hill, Greensboro, McLean, East Falls Church, Virginia Square-GMU, Clarendon, and Courthouse.

Metro board member and Loudoun County board member Matt Letourneau says he thinks Metro should open service and see what stations are used the most.

“It’s my belief that a lot of the end of the line customers may actually be utilizing some of these stations that are in Tyson’s and Reston and in between for their commute,” Letourneau said. “Particularly because the Dulles Toll Road tolls are going up like some astronomical number in January. So all of a sudden that trip is much more expensive by car.

“So I think let’s see what happens. And then this is something we can keep in mind for the future.”

Passenger vehicle rates are going up from $3.25 to $4 at the main toll plaza and $1.50 to $2 on the exit ramps. The tolls help pay for the $3 billion Silver Line extension.

Letourneau also said Metro should “look at ways to align better with the airport and their operations” since a lot of employees get there early in the morning. It’s unclear if extending hours earlier than 5 a.m. would be possible if Metro aims to keep up with planned overnight system maintenance. It’s also unclear what the return on investment would be for an express train.

The transit agency is also looking at a series of ideas to address crowding in the Rosslyn tunnel and one option includes building a dedicated tunnel for the Silver Line that would speed up express service to D.C., skipping several stops. Those plans are likely decades away and would cost billions.