Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 10, 2008

Metro ready for weekend events

Extra trains available for sports events, Cherry Blossom parade

Metro officials have pledged that extra trains will be available to get everyone home from this weekend’s sports events and the annual Cherry Blossom parade.

This weekend will be crowded in the Metrorail system as sports fans head to the Nationals, Capitals and Wizards games. On Friday, April 11, the Capitals play at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center, and the Nationals play at 7:35 p.m. at Nationals Park. On Saturday, April 12, the Nationals play at 1:05 p.m. at Nationals Park, and the Wizards play at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center. On Sunday, April 13, the Nationals play at 1:35 p.m. at Nationals Park, and the Capitals play at 2 p.m. at the Verizon Center. Also on Saturday, April 12, the annual Cherry Blossom parade will be held from 10 a.m. to noon along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Street NW.

On Friday afternoon, Metro will operate normal afternoon rush hour service on all rail lines leading up to baseball and hockey events. 

Throughout the weekend, Metro will have up to 20 additional trains to place into service after each event. These trains will be a combination of six-and eight-car trains. Many of these trains will be placed in service at the Gallery Pl-Chinatown, Navy Yard, Smithsonian and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations.

Fans traveling to the Verizon Center are encouraged to use the other Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail station entrances at 9th and G Street, NW, and 7th and H Street, NW, or to use Judiciary Square station at 5th and F Street, NW, to avoid the crowds expected at the 7th and F Street entrance for the Capitals and Wizards games.

Fans going to the Nationals game are reminded to use both entrances at Navy Yard Metrorail station on the Green Line. The station’s newly expanded west entrance at Half and M Street, SE, is one block from the Nationals Park. The station’s east entrance is two blocks away at New Jersey Avenue, SE.

Individuals attending the Cherry Blossom parade should use the Smithsonian and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations on the Blue and Orange lines or the Archives-Navy Mem’l Penn Quarter on the Yellow and Green lines.

Throughout the weekend, Metro will have additional station managers, rail supervisors and Transit Police at the Gallery Pl-Chinatown, Navy Yard, Smithsonian, and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations to assist customers.

Upon entering the Metrorail system, all patrons should purchase enough value on their farecards or SmarTrip cards for their round trip.

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News release issued at 3:01 pm, April 10, 2008.