Meet new Dulles Rail Yard Superintendent, Erika Briggs

What does it take to oversee Metro’s largest rail yard? We caught up with the new Dulles Rail Yard Superintendent, Erika Briggs, to learn about her day-to-day work and the evolution of her career at Metro. Erika has worked at Metro for over 25 years, honing her skills in positions including Special Police Officer, Sales Representative, Train Operator, Rail Operations Supervisor, and now Dulles Rail Yard Superintendent. In her current position, she oversees the daily responsibilities of the nearly 700 hundred employees assigned to the Dulles Rail Yard. 

Metro’s rail yards are made up of a series of tracks and facilities that enable staff to sort, store, and maintain railcars to operate the system efficiently. A brand-new rail maintenance and service yard, located on 90 acres of the Washington Dulles International Airport property (that’s roughly 2.5 times the size of the Pentagon!), is the largest rail yard in the Metro system. The new rail yard is also one of the most logistically important components of the Silver Line Extension, projected to open this fall. It includes six new Metrorail stations, extending service to Washington Dulles International Airport and beyond to Loudoun County. 

While Erika officially clocks in at 7 a.m., her day really begins as soon as she wakes up. Her commitment and dedication drive her to immediately begin reviewing emails, alerts, and notifications from the Rail Operations Control Center and her team members. When she arrives onsite, she conducts routine updates with the Interlocking Operator and Depot Clerk so that she is informed about train and staffing needs. Throughout the course of her day, she can expect a series of meetings, paperwork obligations, and urgent operational needs requiring immediate attention for resolution. 

When asked how she handles action-packed days and challenges on the job, Erika said that she talks with trusted colleagues and learns from others who have worked in the same role. She underscored the importance of learning best practices and relying on knowledge of those who have paved the way. She added that long walks and meditation certainly help. When asked about what she likes most about her job, she said it’s “knowing that the role I play contributes to safe and reliable service we provide to our customers traveling to and from their destinations, daily.” 

Erika also spoke about the satisfaction she gets working with Metro’s front-line personnel to ensure they have the tools they need to effectively perform their jobs and get home safely each night. She credited Metro leadership, specifically Lisa Woodruff (Senior Vice President of Rail Services), Shanita Wilkinson (Vice President of the Office of Rail Transportation), and Allison Hall (Director of the Office of Rail Operations, Stations) with inspiring her professionally. The admiration is mutual – when we reached out to Allison to comment, she stated, “Erika is a pleasure to work alongside. Over the last couple of years, she has contributed a tremendous amount of work to the Silver Line Extension and served as the Rail Transportation (RTRA) lead on all aspects of the expansion. We are proud of her achievements and commitment to our team. It is exciting to be nearing the grand opening and watching Erika continue to flourish in her role as Superintendent of Dulles Rail Division.”

Looking for more updates about the Silver Line Extension? Visit wmata.com/silverline for details and sign up for the Silver Bulletin to get the latest news about the opening of the Extension.