Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 18, 2013

Metro weekend track work February 22-24
Buses replace trains on portion of Orange Line; single tracking on Red Line

The release below has been updated.  The previously announced work on the Green Line has been cancelled.

The ongoing effort to rebuild and upgrade the Metrorail system to provide safer and more reliable service will continue over the weekend of February 22-24, 2013, on the Red and Orange lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

There is no scheduled track work this weekend on the Blue, Yellow or Green lines.

Orange Line

• Free shuttle buses will replace Orange Line trains between Vienna and Ballston to allow for signal system integration with the new Silver Line extension.
• Four stations will be closed: Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church.
• Orange Line trains will operate normally, at regular weekend intervals, between Ballston and New Carrollton.
• Shuttle bus service between Vienna and Ballston will operate on two routes: Express buses will operate between Vienna and Ballston only; customers should add 25 minutes of additional travel time. Local buses will run between Vienna and Ballston serving all intermediate stops; customers should add up to 50 minutes of travel time.

Red Line

• Red Line trains will single track in two work zones: between Friendship Heights and Van Ness to allow for track, fastener and insulator renewal, and between Takoma and Rhode Island Avenue to allow for platform reconstruction and rail joint elimination for a smoother ride.
• Throughout the weekend, trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes in each direction.
• On Saturday and Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and NoMa-Gallaudet, resulting in service about every 12 minutes between those stations.
• Customers traveling through either work zone should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Metro is advancing Metro Forward, a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, Metro Forward includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metro buses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.

News release issued at 10:50 am, February 19, 2013.