The Washington Metro is known for its engineering feats, and while the Wheaton station holds the distinction of having the longest single-span escalator in the Western Hemisphere, the system’s elevators boast impressive records of their own. At Forest Glen (located in Silver Spring, Maryland), riders take the longest elevator trip in the DC Metro system… a vertical rise of 196 feet.
Forest Glen’s platforms sit nearly 200 feet below ground, making it the deepest station in the network. Unlike most Metro stations, there are no escalators here; access is provided entirely by high-speed elevators that carry riders between the street and the platform. It’s a ride that highlights just how far beneath the surface the Red Line runs in Silver Spring.
The Forest Glen elevators are part of a massive vertical-transportation system that sets Metro apart on the continent. According to WMATA, the Washington Metro has 320 elevators and 647 escalators– the most of any transit system in North America. This extensive network reflects the system’s design, which includes a mix of shallow and deep stations, many of them built into the region’s hilly terrain.
Together, Wheaton’s record-breaking escalator and Forest Glen’s towering elevator showcase Metro’s reliance on engineering solutions to navigate geography while moving hundreds of thousands of riders each day. For commuters, they are everyday tools. For visitors, they are reminders of just how unique the DC Metro system truly is.
