Glossary & Acronyms
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AGM
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Assistant General Manager
Arcing Insulator
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An insulator along the third rail that may be giving off sparks or smoke
Articulated Buses
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Extra-long buses with two connected passenger compartments. The rear body section is connected to the main body by a joint mechanism that allows the vehicles to bend when in operation for sharp turns and curves yet maintain a continuous interior.
At Grade
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Track work constructed at the approximate level of the adjacent ground surface, rather than the elevated or subway parts of the system
Authority
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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
BIE
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See Brakes in Emergency
Bladensburg
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Term used to refer to the Bladensburg Metrobus facility, which serves as a major maintenance/repair, washing, and storage facility. It is located along Bladensburg Road near New York Avenue.
Blowpit
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An area below the tracks that blows air up to the train in an effort to keep it free of dust and other particles
Bulkhead Door
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The train door on the end of the car that is used for emergency passage from car to car
BOCC
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Bus Operations Communication Center
Brakes in Emergency
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When the breaking mechanism on a rail car indicates that the brakes on the car need to be serviced, the train automatically brakes in a safe position/location on a track so that the brakes do not fail. Brakes in Emergency (BIE) is the actual application of the emergency braking system. When there is a BIE, the train cannot move.
Breda
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Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie; the name of an Italian manufacturer of rail cars
Bumpy Tiles
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Tiles with raised domes that are located along the edge of the platform to provide a tactile method of alerting passengers that they are near the edge
TheBus
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Local bus service operated by the Prince George's County (MD) Department of Transportation
Cab
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The compartment of a rail car where the operator works and where the rail car's controls are located
CAF
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Construcciones Y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is the name of a Madrid (Spain)-based manufacturer of rail cars
Canopy
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The roof-type structure above Metrorail station entrances or above bus stations/terminals used to protect the entryway or customers from inclement weather
Catwalk
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A narrow, often elevated walkway, as on the sides of a bridge
Central Control
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See Rail Operations Central Control
CEO
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Chief Executive Officer
Chain Marker
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A distance of 100 feet indicated by a survey marker along the tracks identifying the distance in multiples of 100 feet to the middle of the Metro Center platform
CNG
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Compressed Natural Gas
Code Red Day
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When the air quality in the Washington Metropolitan Area is deemed to be very poor, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) declares "code red days." On "code red days," Metrobus fares are waived on many Metrobus routes in an effort to encourage individuals to use public transportation instead of automobiles so as not to contribute to the poor air quality.
COG
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Council of Governments for the Washington Metropolitan Area
Commuter Rail
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An electronic- or diesel-propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local short-distance travel operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs
Coupler
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A mechanical device on each end of a rail car that is used to connect one car to another
Coverboard
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The insulated cover above (and in some cases, behind) the third rail to prevent inadvertent contact with the rail and to minimize snow and ice accumulation on it. The coverboard also serves as a third rail locator, especially in yards, when the level of snow is above the third rail.
Cross Tie
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One of the beams, usually made of wood, that is laid across a railroad bed to secure the rails
Customer
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A passenger or patron who rides Metro or inquires about service
DASH
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The local bus service provided by the Alexandria (VA) Transit Company
Deadhead
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A non-revenue vehicle marked as "not in service"
Derailment
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The unintentional removal of one or more train wheels from the running rail
DF
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Diesel fuel
DGM
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Deputy General Manager
Edgelights
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The lights located along the platform edge that flash to indicate an approaching or departing train
Emergency Door
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The rail car's center door equipped with a self-evacuation mechanism. Bulkhead doors at either end of the rail cars are also available for emergency-only exits.
Fairfax Connector
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Fairfax County (VA) bus service
Fare
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The revenue paid from a passenger to receive transit services
Farebox
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The receptical used to collect the customer fees for transit services
Farecard
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The currency purchased by customers that is used to travel on the Metrorail system
Faregate
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The machine at the entrance to passenger stations that records information onto, and collects fare from, the farecard as a patron enters and exits the system
Fare Evasion
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When an individual uses transit or attempts to do so without paying the posted fare
Fare Vendor
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The farecard vending machines at the entrance to a station
Fleet
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All of the vehicles that are owned or operated by a transit authority
FTA
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Federal Transit Administration
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Gap Train
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A train stored on a pocket track for possible insertion into a gap in the schedule if another train must be removed from service or if additional service is required
GM
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General Manager
Grade Crossings
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An intersection of highway roads, railroad tracks or dedicated transit rail tracks that run either parallel to or across mixed traffic situations
Headway
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The time interval between vehicles moving in the same direction on a particular route
Heavy Rail
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A high-speed transit mode that is an electric railway with the capacity for a high volume of traffic
Heavy Rail Passenger Cars
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Rail cars operated with electric power configured for passenger traffic
Insulator
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The protective covering along the third rail
IRP
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Infrastructure Renewal Program
In-fill Station
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A Metrorail station that is built between two existing stations after the stations on either side of it are already in use
In revenue
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A train or bus that is being used to service paying customers; it is being used to generate revenue.
Interlocking
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The part of the railroad where tracks can cross each other or change to direct trains along different routes. The interlocking itself is an arrangement of signals and signal appliances that permit train movements over controlled routes only if safe conditions exist.
JGB
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Jackson Graham Building, the main headquarters for Metro
Judi
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A term referring to the Judiciary Square Metrorail station
Jumper
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An unauthorized person on the tracks
Junction
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A location where train routes converge and diverge
Kicker rail
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A short third rail section
Kiosk
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The octagonal structure near a rail station entrance that serves as the station manager's office/booth and the hub of communications for a Metrorail station
Light Rail
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A means of transit that is an electric railway with a light capacity compared to heavy rail
Line
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The route that a vehicle takes to get to its destination, usually designated as a number for a bus route or a color for a rail route
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MARC
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Maryland Area Regional Commuter Train Service
Married pair
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Two transit rail cars that are semi-permanently coupled to each other and that share certain common equipment. Metrorail trains only operate trains with an even number of cars because it operates married pairs.
Metro
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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
MetroAccess
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Paratransit service that Metro provides for people with disabilities who are certified eligible to receive this service because they are unable to access Metrorail, Metrobus or other fixed-transit services
Mezzanine
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The area of a Metrorail station that is near the entrance level that contains the faregate, fare vendors, and kiosk
MOC
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Maintenance Operations Center, the facility from which all Metrorail maintenance activities are coordinated and monitored
MTA
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Maryland Transportation Administration
Mushroom
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The train operator's emergency brake control
MTPD
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Metro Transit Police Department
MWCOG
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Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
NextBus
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An electronic, real-time, information display system that tells customers where a bus is along the route and when it will arrive at a designated bus stop. This real-time information is accessible through Internet-connected devices.
Non-revenue hours
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The hours when passenger service is not operated
Non-revenue train
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Any train in test, maintenance, emergency or inspection service, which may not be used by the public
OCC
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See Rail Operations Central Control
OmniRide/Omnilink
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Transit systems operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC)
Operators
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Individuals who are at the control of a rail car or who drive a bus: a bus operator or a rail operator
Passenger Information Display Signs
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Electronic signs that provide information on the next train or bus to passengers on the Metrorail system or passengers along a NextBus bus route
Patron
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A paying customer
Peak Hours
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Those periods on weekdays (excluding observed holidays) normally associated with morning and evening rush hours
PIDS
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See Passenger Information Display Signs
Platform
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The part of a Metrorail station that is on either side of the track bed where passengers wait for trains to arrive
Portal
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The point where trains enter and exit tunnels
Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission
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The authority in charge of operating OmniRide and Omnilink in Virginia
Rail Operations Central Control
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The facility in the Metro headquarters building from which train control and supervision is accomplished for the entire transit system
Rehabilitation
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The process of renovating a rail car, train or bus to original specifications through a rebuilding process that may include new components, mechanical systems, and interior
Revenue
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Money paid in fares
Revenue Hours
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The hours when revenue trains or buses are in service
Revenue Service
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The time when a rail car or bus is available to the paying public
Revenue Vehicle
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A rail car or bus that is used by paying customers
The RideGuide
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The service provided by Metro that informs customers of the various routes they can take to get to their desired destinations
Ride On
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The Montgomery County (MD) local bus system
Rohr
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Rohr Corporation, a manufacturer of rail cars
Route
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The regular path or direction that a bus or train takes to get to different locations
Running rails
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The two rails on which the wheels of trains travel
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S-1 Guards
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Protective devices along the rear passenger-door side of buses that serve to push objects away from the rear door-side tire of a bus. They help prevent the rear wheel from running over objects that may be on the ground.
SAP
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System Access and Capacity Program
SEP
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System Expansion Program
Single track
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The operation using only one main track for trains traveling in both directions by alternating the direction of traffic when the track is vacant
SmarTrip® Card
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A permanent, rechargeable plastic farecard, like a credit card, which is embedded with a special computer chip that keeps track of the value of the card
Smoldering Insulator
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An insulator along the third rail that may be giving off smoke
Station Manager
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The Metro employee who oversees activity in a Metrorail station and serves as the head Metrorail official in a station. The Station Manager's Office is the kiosk located near the faregates.
Station Overrun
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When a Metrorail train arrives at a platform, but the lead car in the train passes the platform
TAGS
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Transportation Association of Greater Springfield
Terminal Station
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The last stop along a Metrorail line or bus route
Third Rail
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The high voltage rail bar along the track that carries electrical energy to run the trains on that track. The third rail voltage is approximately 750 volts. It is also sometimes referred to as a propulsion rail or contact rail.
Train Operator
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The qualified Metro employee aboard a rail vehicle who has direct and immediate control of the vehicle
Truncated Domes
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See Bumpy Tiles
Tunnel
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The underground passageway used by Metrorail cars
USDOT
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United States Department of Transportation
Vault
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The underground Metrorail station's main cavity bordered by the interior walls between the station and the external rock-bed
VRE
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Virginia Railway Express
WMATA
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Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority