METRORail

The regular fare to board is $1.25

The discounted fare is 60 cents.

The following passengers ride free:

• Children five or younger, accompanied by an adult
• Seniors 70 years or older who have a discounted METRO Q® Fare Card
• Disabled or decorated veterans who have a METRO Veterans Pass
• METROLift customers with a METROLift Freedom Q® Card, and up to one assistant

You can pay your METRORail fare using any of the following:

• METRO Q® Fare Card
• METRO Q Mobile Ticket
• METRO Day Pass
• METRO Money card
• METRORail Ticket

The All About Fares page has information on where you can obtain various fare cards.

If you pay your fare using a METRO Q® Fare Card, METRO Q Mobile Ticket, METRO Day Pass or METRO Money card, you’re entitled to free transfers between any of these METRO services for up to three hours in any direction:

• Local bus
• METRORail
• METRO curb2curb

When paying with a METRORail paper ticket, transfers to other METRO services aren’t included.

For transfers to Park & Ride bus service, you only pay the fare difference for up to three hours in any direction.

If you wish to pay with a mobile ticket and plan to ride or transfer to a Park & Ride bus during your trip, you'll need to purchase and activate a Park & Ride mobile ticket. It's valid for three hours once activated and entitles you to free transfers between any METRO service of equal or lesser value during that time.

Only regular fare mobile tickets are available for purchase.

Frequency of service, a stop-by-stop schedule, a PDF schedule and a linear route map for each METRORail line are found on the METRORail page.

A linear route map for each METRORail line is found on the METRORail page.

You can also use our Interactive System Map (best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer). In the rail section of the map, you can check a box next to any METRORail line and the map will draw a line showing the entire route and where it runs.

If you’d prefer a physical map, we include a map image in the printed brochure for each individual METRORail line. Brochures are available for free at all METRO RideStore locations:

• Downtown Transit Center - 1900 Main St.
• Main Street Square - 1001 Travis St.
• Northwest Transit Center - 7373 Old Katy Road
• Fannin South Transit Center - 1604 West Bellfort St.

Trip planning tools are available on:

• Various pages of the METRO website, including the home page
• RideMETRO app for your smartphone
• Google or Apple maps

METRORail trains make stops at rail station platforms along city streets in and around downtown Houston. You can also board a METRORail train at the following transit centers:

• Burnett (Red Line)
• Downtown (Red Line)
• Fannin South (Red Line)
• Magnolia Park (Green Line)
• Northline (Red Line)
• Palm Center (Purple Line)
• Texas Medical Center (Red Line)

All METRORail trains have large, bright destination signs on the front of the train above the windshield and along the side of the train as it pulls into the station.

Red Line trains would say one of the following:

• Northline TC
• Smith Lands
• Fannin South

Green Line trains would say one of the following:

• Magnolia Park
• Theater District

Purple Line trains would say one of the following:

• Palm Center TC
• Theater District

Alerts or detours could affect your train’s arrival time and/or the length of your trip. Subscribing to receive this information is a convenient way to know before you go.

On the METRO website, you can subscribe to receive notifications direct to your phone or email.

The quickest and easiest signup option is the "Subscribe to Receive Alerts" link found next to each rail line on the METRORail page.

All subscriptions are free and you can unsubscribe at any time.

If you don’t wish to subscribe, you can use any of the following:

• METRORail page (if there are any active alerts, a link to view them will be visible where the rail lines are shown)
• RideMETRO app (a red triangular icon will appear on the screen if your selected rail line is experiencing a service alert)

You can also use our Trip Planner which is available on:

• Various pages of the METRO website, including the home page
• RideMETRO app for your smartphone
• Google or Apple maps

All METRORail platforms have scrolling digital messages in both English and Spanish that display the estimated wait time for the next train.

Estimated wait times are also posted at select transit centers where METRORail is available.

Transit centers are sheltered waiting areas where you can transfer to other METRO routes and services that provide access to even more destinations.

Certain locations feature digital signs and screens displaying service alerts and estimated wait times for routes that stop there.

This information is also available on:

• METRO website home page (“Track Bus or Train” tab)
  
• RideMETRO app for your smartphone
• Google maps

First, please let riders exit the train before you board. After all riders have disembarked through the railcar doors, please enter the train and choose an open seat. Please avoid sitting in the priority seating areas for the elderly and people with disabilities, marked by the International Symbol of Access (Wheelchair Symbol).

All METRORail platforms are accessible under the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They offer sloped ramp access from both ends of the platform and level boarding that easily accommodates mobility devices.

Any METRO fare card:

Prior to boarding, tap your card on the validator located on the rail platform and the fare amount will be deducted. Some fare validators are located on freestanding poles. Others are attached to ticket vending machines.

If you prefer to go contactless, you can wave your card close to the validator as well. Make sure the light registers green in the upper right when you tap or wave.

METRO Q Mobile Ticket (only regular fare available):

Activate the ticket on your smartphone before boarding. It will display animated colors and motion on your phone. Upon request, show it to a METRO Fare Inspector or METRO Police Officer – either on the rail platform prior to boarding or on the train during your ride.

METRORail Ticket:

All METRORail platforms have ticket vending machines where you can purchase a three-hour METRORail ticket for $1.25.

The machines accept cash, credit card or debit card.

Upon request, show it to a METRO Fare Inspector or METRO Police Officer – either on the rail platform prior to boarding or on the train during your ride.

Yes, based on the guidance below:

Service animals

You’re allowed to travel with a service animal.

Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, and must be kept under the handler’s control.

Non-service animals (including emotional support animals)

You’re allowed to travel with non-service animals (pets) on METRO vehicles, but they must be transported and properly restrained in an animal carrier at all times.