| United States Capitol subway system | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | U.S. federal government | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | United States Capitol Complex,Washington, D.C., US | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transit type | People mover | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of lines | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of stations | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Began operation | March 7, 1909 (1909-03-07) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Architect of the Capitol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of vehicles | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thesubway system of theUnited States Capitol Complex inWashington, D.C., consists of three underground electricpeople mover systems that connect theUnited States Capitol to severalcongressional office buildings – all of theSenate buildings and one of theHouse buildings.
The original subway line was built in 1909 to link theRussell Senate Office Building to the Capitol.[1] In 1960, an operator-controlledmonorail was installed for theDirksen Senate Office Building.[2] A two-car subway line connecting theRayburn House Office Building to the Capitol was built in 1965.[3][4] The Dirksen monorail, which had been extended to theHart Senate Office Building in 1982, was replaced in 1993 by an automatic train.[1][2]
On the Senate side, two separate subway lines exist. The first is a crewed two-track system, with a single open-topped car operating on each track, connecting theRussell Senate Office Building and the Capitol. The other is a computer-controlled system with three enclosed trains of three cars each running on a 90-second schedule, connecting theHart Senate Office Building, theDirksen Senate Office Building, and the Capitol.[5] The train cars are unpowered; the train is propelled by a track-sidelinear motor. This line has two parallel tracks for most of its length, but at the Hart and Capitol stations the tracks converge into one, with a singleside platform. This allows easy return travel on the opposite track. The Dirksen station features a side platform for Capitol-bound trains and anisland platform for Hart-bound trains. All three of these stations featureplatform screen doors. A small maintenance spur is located adjacent to the Hart station.
On the House side, an older, crewed two-track system, with a single open-topped car operating on each track, shuttles passengers between theRayburn House Office Building and the Capitol. The remaining four House office buildings are not serviced by the subway system; two (Cannon andLongworth) usea shared underground footpath tunnel while the other two (Ford andO'Neill) have no underground connection to the capitol.
The House and Senate subway systems do not terminate in the same location under the Capitol, but they are connected by a labyrinth of tunnels.
The public can travel on the trains — usually during a tour of theCapitol Complex — but must be escorted by a staff member with proper identification. During votes, the House subway is restricted to congressional members. The Russell subway is restricted to members and staff during Senate votes.
Since the terrorist attacks ofSeptember 11, 2001, restrictions have been placed on visitors using the Senate subway between the Hart and Dirksen buildings.
SenatorJohn W. Bricker was shot at as he entered the Capitol subway tunnel by former Capitol Police officer William Louis Kaiser on July 12, 1947.[6] Bricker survived as the shots did not hit him.
A collision occurred on October 2, 2007, in the Rayburn to Capitol subway line after a car failed to slow down when it reached the end of the track line. The operator was injured and taken to a hospital for observation.[7]
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Current cars:[8]
Retired cars:
38°53′23″N77°0′32″W / 38.88972°N 77.00889°W /38.88972; -77.00889
