Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 21, 2008

Delays expected on the Orange Line

Metrorail’s Orange Line riders can expect delays on the Virginia end of the Orange Line throughout the evening rush hour due to a power problem experienced by Dominion Virginia Power that is affecting Metrorail.

Vienna-bound Orange Line trains will operate 12 minutes apart between the West Falls Church-VT/UVA and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations, and every other train will terminate at West Falls Church. Passengers going to Dunn Loring-Merrifield or Vienna will need to get off at West Falls Church and wait for the next train. New Carrollton-bound Orange Line trains are leaving from West Falls Church and Vienna.

The Dunn Loring Metrorail station is without power at this time, and elevators and escalators at the station are not functioning. Generators will be used to try to restore those services inside the station.

Since Friday, July 18, Dominion Virginia Power lost an electrical feeder near the Vienna Metrorail station and today the power company lost its back-up feeder near West Falls Church. Metro has been using power from its West Falls Church rail yard to help keep trains running.

If more power is lost, Metrobus will operate a free shuttle service between the Ballston-MU and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations with stops at East Falls Church, West Falls Church and Dunn Loring-Merrifield.

If power problems persist, the morning rush hour also will be affected.

News release issued at 4:18 pm, July 21, 2008.