Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 18, 2008

Rail testing may cause delays

Starting next week, Metrorail customers may experience minor delays as the transit agency prepares to conduct overnight ultrasonic testing of the Metrorail system to search for worn rails that need replacement.

If replacement is needed, the area of track will be fixed temporarily, a slower speed will be mandated for trains that pass that area, and the track identified for replacement will be removed and replaced the following night.

These speed restrictions may cause minor delays to trains as they slow down to pass over the area of track that has been identified for replacement.

Overnight testing of the 106-mile rail system is conducted five times a year by a special machine after the rail system closes for the night. The machine rides the rails and uses ultrasonic testing to detect cracks or other flaws to ensure that the rails are in safe operating condition. In addition to the overnight testing, track inspectors also visually inspect the rails twice a week to ensure the reliability and safety of the rail system.

The tentative overnight rail inspection schedule is as follows:

Week of January 21:
Red Line – Shady Grove to Glenmont

Week of January 28:
Orange Line – New Carrollton to Vienna/Fairfax-GMU
Blue and Orange Lines – Largo Town Center to New Carrollton

Week of February 4:
Green Line – Branch Avenue to Greenbelt
Blue Line – Franconia Springfield to King Street
Yellow and Blue Line – Huntington to Rosslyn
Yellow Line – Pentagon to L’Enfant Plaza

Metrorail riders also can expect trains pulling into Cheverly Metrorail station to slow down a little earlier than usual while officials test soil samples adjacent to the elevated tracks.

The soil boring work and the installation of monitoring instruments are being conducted as a result of nearby development to allow officials to determine the stability of the ground at the development site and its possible impact on the aerial tracks.

Trains will slow to 35 mph in the area approximately 300 feet before arriving at the station platform.

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News release issued at 12:00 am, January 18, 2008.