{"id":2459301,"date":"2025-07-12T07:33:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T11:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-exclusive-dc-subway-that-keeps-trapping-us-senators\/"},"modified":"2025-07-12T07:39:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T11:39:14","slug":"the-exclusive-dc-subway-that-keeps-trapping-us-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-exclusive-dc-subway-that-keeps-trapping-us-senators\/","title":{"rendered":"The exclusive DC subway that keeps trapping US senators"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-exclusive-dc-subway-that-keeps-trapping-us-senators%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2459301&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the exclusive subway system designed to transport U.S. senators between the Capitol and their office buildings. While intended to save walking time, the automated, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >magnet-powered train-operating<\/a> as the 1990s-frequently enough experiences sudden stops and mechanical issues that leave senators and staff stranded on the tracks. despite its role in reducing transit time, many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reports-fauci-has-investments-in-chinese-tied-fund\/\" title=\"Reports: Fauci has investments in Chinese-tied fund\">senators find<\/a> the subway unreliable and sometimes opt to walk along a nearby path decorated with state flags for health or convenience. The system&#8217;s frustrations have prompted calls for better funding and upgrades, especially as timely transportation is critical amid the Senate&#8217;s strict voting schedules. A separate, manually operated tram system serving the older Russell Office Building is generally more reliable but occasionally undergoes maintenance disruptions. the Capitol subway is seen as a mixed convenience that often causes delays and humor among riders but requires improvements to meet senators&#8217; needs effectively.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">The exclusive Capitol subway that keeps trapping US senators<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2171175\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Senators are getting trapped in a subway built exclusively for their convenience, prompting calls for more funding and causing some amusement for those who opt to walk the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\">Senate&rsquo;s<\/a> tunnels instead.<\/p>\n<p>Riding the tiny, three-car train, which shuttles between the U.S. Capitol and two Senate office buildings, has become a gamble for senators, staffers, and congressional reporters alike. It was constructed to cut down on walking time, and when operating smoothly can travel from end to end in under two minutes. But the train&rsquo;s automated system, brought online in the 1990s, also stops abruptly and can leave riders briefly stranded on the tracks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3468336\/defense-hawks-relief-trump-russia-adversaries\/\">Defense hawks find &#8216;relief&#8217; in Trump&#8217;s shift on Russia and adversaries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3468269\/big-beautiful-bill-2-could-set-up-fiscal-hawks-disappointment\/\">&#8216;Big, beautiful bill&#8217; 2.0 could set up fiscal hawks for more disappointment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3468316\/marco-rubio-deepfake-scam-explosion-ai-voice-impersonation-robocalls\/\">Marco Rubio deepfake scam underscores the &#8216;explosion&#8217; of AI voice impersonation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The latest episode came on Thursday, when a half-dozen senators, feet away from their destination, were forced to sit patiently as reporters snapped photos of them in good humor on the other side of the plexiglass.<\/p>\n<p>At other times, riders have been forced to <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2018\/04\/17\/photo-of-the-day-subway-problems-arent-just-for-the-red-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">disembark the train<\/a> and carefully navigate to the walking path that runs along its tracks.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been stuck on it, probably, oh, 20 times,&rdquo; said Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), making the trek back to his office on foot. &ldquo;If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/time-forced-to-issue-embarrassing-correction-after-calling-one-of-trumps-debate-claims-false\/\" title=\"... Forced to Issue Embarrassing Correction After Calling One of Trump&#039;s Debate Claims &#039;False&#039;\">time wasn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t a factor here, I would never take it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That walking path, adorned with flags of all 50 states, is a popular alternative for senators who say the train only saves a marginal amount of time. In the era of smart watches, some skip the train to be health-conscious.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I need to walk,&rdquo; said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), who works in the farther-away Hart Office Building. &ldquo;I get 50,000 steps a week in.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3438132\/team-thune-first-place-fitness-challenge-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>PHOTO FINISH: TEAM THUNE TAKES FIRST PLACE AFTER FITNESS CHALLENGE &lsquo;RECOUNT&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The frequent stoppages, which can last seconds or sometimes minutes, are nonetheless a source of frustration for the dozens of senators who rely on the train daily and can interfere with their official duties.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), one of several appropriators trapped on Thursday&rsquo;s train, returned to a committee hearing that afternoon with a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenKatieBritt\/status\/1943355775050559495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">smiling but earnest request<\/a> that the trains get adequate funding.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) replied that he and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), the top appropriators for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-gives-itself-double-digit-raise-while-americans-real-wages-fall\/\" title=\"Congress Gives Itself Double-Digit Raise While Americans\u2019 Real Wages Fall\">legislative branch funding<\/a>, used their time stranded together to agree on the need for a fix.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Not that I don&rsquo;t like spending time with him, just not stuck on a train,&rdquo; Mullin joked.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A subway train departs the Senate&rsquo;s Dirksen Office Building. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Frustration with the train system dates back decades and is rooted in the steady expansion of the Capitol complex. The automated line, a magnet-powered system modeled after Disney World&rsquo;s monorail, opened in 1994 to accommodate senators in the newly constructed Hart Building.<\/p>\n<p>There was inadequate cabin space in the 12 years before the new train was installed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/artandhistory\/senate-stories\/senate-subway.htm\">according to<\/a> the Senate Historical Office, leading to long wait times and missed votes. Half of the Senate&rsquo;s 100 members are housed in Hart.<\/p>\n<p>There is a loose consensus that today&rsquo;s subway only saves about 90 seconds each trip for those in Hart. The time saved is even shorter for the intermediate stop at the Dirksen Office Building.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-nomination-fight-pits-old-gop-coalition-against-new-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"RFK Jr. nomination fight pits old GOP coalition against new - ... Examiner\">senators don&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t feel the subway is worth the trouble.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I try to walk,&rdquo; said Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to get stuck.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But others complain that a reliable system is needed, given the hearings and meetings interspersed between Senate votes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t save you much, but we operate on these schedules that are just crazy,&rdquo; said Kelly. &ldquo;And over the course of a week, it can add up to a significant, significant amount of time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A timely train became an even greater imperative earlier this year when Republicans implemented a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3441925\/thune-sends-senators-sprinting-new-voting-stop-clock\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">30-minute rule<\/a> to instill discipline in Senate votes that had been dragging on for an hour or longer.<\/p>\n<p>Even when the trains are fully functional, stray senators can be found sprinting to the chamber to make the cutoff.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3441925\/thune-sends-senators-sprinting-new-voting-stop-clock\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>THUNE SENDS SENATORS SPRINTING WITH NEW VOTING STOP CLOCK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A subway train stops at the Senate basement. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At less critical times, the stoppages can still be highly inconvenient. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) was among those <a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2024\/03\/08\/editors-note-train-in-vain-you-didnt-stand-by-me\/\">trapped<\/a> late at night after President Joe Biden delivered his final State of the Union address to Congress last year.<\/p>\n<p>The mechanical failures, usually taken in good spirits, are accompanied by smiles, waving, and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ChrisMurphyCT\/status\/1144603015040688130\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">light ribbing<\/a> from passersby who often take the train but, looking on at someone else&rsquo;s misfortune, dodged a similar fate.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of Democratic leadership, said the subway is &ldquo;probably in need of an upgrade&rdquo; but ranked it as a low priority as he waited for a train.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t crack the top 100 things that I think about on any given day,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A subway train waits to depart for the Russell Office Building. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A separate train system, two open-cabin trams that service the older Russell Office Building, has received fewer complaints. The trams are generally reliable and operated manually by drivers who travel to and from the Capitol by request.<\/p>\n<p>But they, too, have been periodically taken out of service for maintenance. In 2023, workers were forced to push riders <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/frankthorp\/status\/1704564437485560233\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">back to the station<\/a> after a shock fell out of the bottom of the train.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3458968\/how-thune-trump-got-behind-one-big-beautiful-bill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>HOW THUNE AND TRUMP GOT BEHIND &lsquo;ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\">\n<figure class=\"\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View of passengers on the U.S. Capitol subway, Washington, DC, April 1950. The system, which opened in 1909, connected the Russell Senate Office Building to the Capitol building via a one-car monorail. (Photo by United States Information Agency\/PhotoQuest\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The trams, in operation since the 1950s, replaced an earlier monorail system and, before that, two yellow Studebaker cars nicknamed &ldquo;Tommy&rdquo; and &ldquo;Peg.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Architect of the Capitol, which operates the subway system, did not respond to a request for comment about future maintenance plans. Appropriators have earmarked $698 million for the entire department&rsquo;s 2026 budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2171175\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2171175\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Capitol subway meant for senators often traps them, sparking calls for upgrades<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3932,"featured_media":2459302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/071025_SUBWAY-8-1024x591.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50501,56646,6743,8068,58949],"class_list":["post-2459301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-dc-2","tag-exclusive-2","tag-subway","tag-transportation","tag-us-senators"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/071025_SUBWAY-8-1024x591.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2459301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3932"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2459301"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2459301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2459305,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2459301\/revisions\/2459305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2459302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2459301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2459301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2459301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}