Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 6, 2009
Metro sets its January weekend track maintenance schedule
Three Lines scheduled for work during two weekends
In January, Metro will conduct switch maintenance and replace fasteners and floating slabs on the Red, Blue and Orange lines to upkeep the tracks and help ensure good Metrorail service. Customers can expect travel delays during these select times.
Friday, January 9, to Sunday, January 11
? Red Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because personnel will replace rail fasteners that stabilize the rail tracks. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, January 9, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, January 11.
? Blue Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes of travel time because of floating slab replacement. Floating slabs are large sections of concrete which rest on doughnut-shaped, rubber pads. The floating slabs support the railroad tracks over which the trains run and absorb vibrations and noise from trains. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, January 9, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, January 11.
Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25
? Red Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because personnel will replace rail fasteners. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, January 23, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, January 25.
? Orange Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the New Carrollton and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add 25 minutes of travel time because of switch maintenance at the New Carrollton Metrorail stations. 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. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, January 23, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, January 25. Every other Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will terminate at the Cheverly Metrorail station and return to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station, to move the most passengers quickly.
Please note, this schedule is subject to change. Metro riders should visit www.metroopensdoors.com at the end of each month to see the following month’s schedule of work. Metro will continue to post news releases each Thursday as a reminder to provide updates about any last minute track maintenance schedule changes.
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News release issued at 11:13 am, January 6, 2009.