GDT > RTD Rider’s Guide > Routes > W Line
Light rail goes west…
The W Line or ‘West Rail Line’ was the first rail line completed as part of RTD’s FasTracks program and provides a crucial connection between downtown Denver and the western suburbs, including Lakewood and Golden. Opened in April 2013 the line follows the route of the Denver and Intermountain Railroad along Lakewood Gulch before turning south and crossing U.S. Route 6 to reach the Denver Federal Center. From there it continues alongside the highway before re-crossing it to reach the terminus at Jefferson County Government Center, approx. 2 miles from the center of Golden. Trains take 40 minutes to complete the 12 mile trip.
Map & Schedule
The W Line operates from 4:30am to 12am, 7 days a week with extra late night round trips being operated on Friday and Saturday nights. 15 minute frequency service is provided from 5am to 8pm, frequency is 30 minutes outside of those times.
Vehicles Used
The W Line is operated by both Siemens SD-100 and Siemens SD-160 light rail vehicles, usually in two or three unit consists. It requires 8 trains to operate the 15 minute frequency service and 4 trains to operate the 30 minute frequency service.
The line is electrified at 750V DC throughout.
Ridership
| Year | Total |
| 2018 | 4,324,000 |
| 2019 | 4,243,000 |
| 2020 | 2,107,000 |
| 2021 | 2,200,000 |
| 2022 | 3,026,000 |
| 2023 | 3,174,000 |
More W Line Content…