Thirty-six years ago on Tuesday, Metrorail opened its doors, offering free rides on a 4.2-mile stretch of the Red Line.
The agency had predicted 10,000 riders that first day, March 27, 1976, but more than 51,000 showed up and rode the line. They had watched the line being built for more than six years.
When the agency started charging fares two days later, the trains ran from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. only on weekdays.
And at that point, the Red Line stretched between only five stations, Rhode Island Ave to Farragut North.
Today, the system has 86 stations and runs for 106 miles. Another 23 miles are planned for the Silver Line now under construction.
