Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 18, 2008

Metro to suspend weekend track maintenance for the next four consecutive weekends

Metro will curtail major weekend track work for four consecutive weekends, March 22-23, and 29-30, and April 5-6, and 12-13.

The break in the weekend track maintenance schedule gives Metro riders a reprieve from ongoing work and coincides with the busy spring season. The temporary suspension of track work allows Metro to operate full weekend service for riders attending the National Cherry Blossom Festival, opening weekend of the Washington Nationals, the National Marathon and other sporting and cultural events throughout the region.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience as we continue to upgrade the Metrorail system,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “We know weekend track work can be an inconvenience, however this work is necessary to ensure the safe operation of the Metrorail system now, and into the future.”

Since the beginning of the year, Metro has conducted track maintenance on all five rail lines, replaced rail switches at the Medical Center and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail stations, and completed platform repairs at the Metro Center Metrorail Station.

“Our track maintenance employees have been working every weekend since the beginning of January, and with Cherry Blossom season approaching along with several other events over the next month, we want our customers to attend these events using Metro,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Rail Services.

Metro will continue to conduct preventive track maintenance during the overnight hours when the system is closed. Repair personnel are always available if emergency repairs are needed in the system.

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News release issued at 12:04 pm, March 18, 2008.