Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 9, 2008
Metro details major red line weekend rehabilitation track work
As part of its infrastructure renewal program to ensure safe and reliable transportation, Metro will conduct a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line over four weekends which will impact travel times. To minimize customer inconvenience, this major rehabilitation project will occur during the weekends, when ridership is lighter than weekdays. Customers should build extra time into their schedule while riding the Red Line.
Medical Center Switch Replacement Schedule
Friday, January 11, 9 p.m., to Sunday, January 13, midnight.
Friday, January 25, 9 p.m., to Sunday, January 27, midnight.
Friday, February 1, 9 p.m., to Sunday, February 3, midnight.
Friday, February 8, 9 p.m., to Sunday, February 10, midnight
During this time, Metro will replace the switch outside the Medical Center Metrorail station on the Red Line. A switch or “interlocking” is an intersection in the track, where trains can “switch” from one track to another, depending on their destination and route.
Red Line Weekend Service Pattern:
O Red Line trains will operate between the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations, however, trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations.
O During the day, Red Line trains will run every nine minutes between the Friendship Heights and Glenmont Metrorail stations. Red Line trains will run every 18 minutes between the Friendship Heights and Shady Grove Metrorail stations, while sharing one track between the Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations.
O During the day, every other Red Line train traveling to the Shady Grove Metrorail station will terminate at the Friendship Heights Metrorail station and return to the Glenmont Metrorail station.
O After 9 p.m., on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all Red Line trains will operate every 18 minutes from the ends of the rail lines.
O All Red Line trains will operate with six cars.
On the weekends of January 11-13, January 25-27, February 1-3 and February 8-10, several sporting events/concerts will occur at the Verizon Center. People attending Verizon Center events should build extra time into their schedules, as their waits will be longer for trains before and after each event.
Riders who have access to a computer or wireless device can always find out when their next train is arriving at a station. To access next train information through a BlackBerry or other web-enabled device, visit http://wmata.com/mobile and select “Next Train Information.” Customers can check to see when the next train is arriving at their station. To access next train information through a computer, visit www.metroopensdoors.com, click to “find a stop/station, click on the appropriate station and then click on “next train arrival.”
To alert customers about these rehabilitation projects, station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system. Additional information will be available on Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
The Trip Planner, located on Metro’s Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.
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News release issued at 12:00 am, January 9, 2008.