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More rail cars mean more eight-car trains during peak periods for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). After adding 20 cars to its fleet today, the agency will use eight-car trains to handle one-fifth of its morning and afternoon peak period operational demands.

WMATA is expanding three Red Line, two Orange Line and two Green Line trains from six- to eight-car units. The remaining six cars will form a stand-by “gap” train that will be used if another train is removed from service. The agency now will operate 820 cars during rush hours — the most-ever used in peak period service.

In October, WMATA acquired 18 cars to eliminate four-car trains on the Blue and Yellow lines during the morning and afternoon rush.