Template talk:Washington Metro lines

Thoughts on the line colors?

As the editor who introduced the individual line colors for this and each individual line template, I've always been on the fence about this decision, considering just how interlined the system is. I think in practice, the end result is usually better with systems that aren't so thoroughly interlined, or at least don't have a majority of interlined sections. It's really hard to show underground interlined sections of track with underground icons, so I defaulted to using black for all interlined sections as a solution. In my opinion, it's not ideal, because the entire point of me coloring in the lines is to help make it easier for readers to differentiate them from each other.

But due to how interlined the Washington Metro is, the end result here is a bunch of route diagram templates with mostly black with a few individual colored sections, which looks... off(?) to me. This is the same reason why I've completely avoided coloring systems like BART for example, which is even more interlined than the Washington Metro. I can already tell with that it would practically be nigh-impossible to show readers where each individual line goes there and would probably be an exercise in futility. Except for the Red Line, I'm really struggling to see how the colors here help to meaningfully differentiate the lines here. I can maybe kinda(?) see this same issue with VTA (which I colorized myself) and MARTA. I'm feeling as if I probably need to stop to listen to some other perspectives on this. OrdinaryScarlett (talk) 06:14, 3 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@OrdinaryScarlett: Are you referring to the individual line templates or the systemwide template? Hotdog with ketchup (talk) 20:46, 3 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Both. OrdinaryScarlett (talk) 22:09, 3 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@OrdinaryScarlett: I just noticed the changes to the Silver Line, which would indeed complicate things for the systemwide RDT, perhaps that should be discussed further with those that are more familiar with the D.C. area than I am. As for the individual lines (except Red), perhaps segments could be created for each section with interlining that can be colored depending on the needs of each line's own RDT. I have done this a few times for Metra, the South Shore Line, and VRE. That could do away with most of the black icons and make it easier to understand. Just a thought. Hotdog with ketchup (talk) 23:32, 3 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's an idea for sure, though I'm not sure how the systemwide template would be handled. I'm afraid it'd create an incongruency between the systemwide and individual templates, since the systemwide template would still require some way of showing interlined segments, which would now be inconsistent with the individual line templates which wouldn't.

I had an admittedly hairbrained idea on how to maybe to break up the black a bit, by maybe using different colors to represent how different lines interline at individual sections (like how the Nuremberg U-Bahn template uses yellow to represent both the U2 and U3 but instead we use different colors depending on which lines are interlined (like OS, BOS, BS, GY, BY), but that would just extremely overcomplicate the templates.

Another alternative is how the O-Train template uses mixed half-and-half icons to show both lines 1 and 3, so interlined sections with two lines can use them (which wouldn't solve the issue for three or more lines, where black could be retained). I suppose that in general, where there are sections of only two lines that interline, split icons could be used instead (and would be preferable over black icons). However, there's already a huge lack of those and creating more of them would be a large undertaking and not something I'm proficient enough to handle.

My word isn't gospel, but all in all, I feel as if that a) I'm either making a mountain out of a molehill by thinking this is even an issue in the first place, or b) (which I'm leaning more towards) line colors like here for example are just more effort and work for diminishing returns. Like I said in my initial comment, I believe that you could really only get away with making line colors on route diagram templates for systems look good when the systems aren't so thoroughly interlined like the Washington Metro are (I do not even want to think about how BART would look) and at this point it's starting to become more of a redundant hindrance than a helpful visual guide. As the editor who introduced the line colors here, I'm very tempted to rollback this change. In all fairness, I feel like this is already pushing BSicon to its absolute limit as is. OrdinaryScarlett (talk) 08:17, 4 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@OrdinaryScarlett: What about colored backgrounds (like !_bg=#012abc) or "FILL" icons, like what used to be on the California state rail template? This would not work for L'Enfant but should help with the rest of it. Hotdog with ketchup (talk) 13:36, 4 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Also it might be worth noting that unless it gets turned the other way, the segments I proposed above may not be viable for the Blue Line template. Unfortunately, the southerly aspect to the western part of the route makes me think it should not be turned around, even though it would make things easier. Hotdog with ketchup (talk) 16:36, 4 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

With that being said, only one new icon ( (lkKRZ3+lu) for a crossing with the Red Line) needs to be created for the East Falls Church–Anacostia River section. Besides that, it should be able to adapt to either color needed with few adjustments. Hotdog with ketchup (talk) 16:46, 4 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Personally, I'm not a fan of the colored backgrounds, since it's a lot harder (in my opinion) to read, especially with the lowered opacity and obstruction of the icons themselves on top of them. Even then, I'm really skeptical of their ability to show off multiple lines well.

I think all in all, if we really want to keep the line colors, I would highly prefer it as it is. It's honestly not a big deal to me. It's just a tradeoff from the capabilities of BSicon and what it can or cannot do. OrdinaryScarlett (talk) 02:13, 5 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]