The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority expanded automatic train operation to the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, the first time since 2009 that all Metrorail lines have it.

During automatic train operation, Metrorail trains get signals from track equipment that controls the train’s speed, acceleration and deceleration, WMATA said in a release. 

Operators are still present in the train’s cab during automatic operation, which isn’t used during inclement weather, in single-tracking situations or when workers are on the tracks.

Metrorail began using automatic train operation again on the Red Line in December and expanded its use to the Green and Yellow lines in May. ATO use on the Orange and Blue lines resumed and began for the first time on the Silver line on Sunday, Metro said. The speed of trains also increased, jumping back up to the system’s original speed of 75 mph.

Metrorail stopped using automatic operation after a 2009 multi-train crash at Fort Totten station on the Red Line that left nine dead and 80 injured, according to WTOP-FM. 

WMATA said that since reintroducing automatic operation on the Red Line in December, there have not been any safety issues or signal violations and travel times between the two ends of the line at Shady Grove and Glenmont have fallen by eight minutes.

WMATA said that starting this Sunday, end-to-end travel times on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines will drop by three minutes and that end-to-end travel times on the Green and Yellow lines will drop by one to two minutes.

“Metro’s full restoration of automatic train operations after 16 years is a transformative achievement. This advancement drives critical improvements in operations, efficiency, system safety and the customer experience. It positions Metro firmly on the path to delivering the world-class transit system our region demands,” Metro Board Chair Valerie Santos said.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.