Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 28, 2009
Metro sets its May weekend track maintenance schedule
No track work scheduled over the Memorial Day weekend
In May, Metro will replaces rail switches on the Red, Blue and Yellow lines, replace rail and cross ties on the Orange Line, and conduct bridge repair work on the Orange Line to upkeep the tracks and help ensure reliable Metrorail service. Customers should expect significant travel delays during these weekends.
Metro will not conduct major track maintenance over the Memorial Day weekend. Instead, Metro officials will replace a rail switch inside the Shady Grove rail yard during the holiday.
Friday, May 1, to Sunday, May 3
Blue and Yellow Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street (Blue Line) and Huntington (Yellow Line) Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes of travel time because of switch and fastener replacement outside the King Street Metrorail station. From 10 p.m., Friday, May 1, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 3, all Yellow Line trains will operate between the Huntington and Greenbelt Metrorail stations, and Blue Line trains will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations, and between the Largo Town Center and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations.
Red Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations should add 20 minutes of travel time because of switch replacement work through the Brentwood rail yard near Union Station. A switch 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, May 1, to closing (midnight), on Sunday, May 3.
Friday, May 8, to Sunday, May 10
Orange Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes of travel time for their trips because personnel will replace rail and crossties, the track support structures, outside the Cheverly Metrorail station and bridge maintenance on the aerial structure outside the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, May 8, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 10.
Red Line – Metrorail customers traveling between the Glenmont and Forest Glen Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because personnel will replace communication cables. Trains will share one track between these locations from 11 p.m., Friday, May 8, to 11:59 p.m., Saturday, May 9.
Friday, May 15, to Sunday, May 17
Orange Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes of travel time because personnel will replace crossties, the track support structures. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, May 15, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 17. To help expedite rail travel back to Washington, D.C., every other Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station will terminate at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station and return to the New Carrollton Metrorail station.
Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31
Orange Line - Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because personnel will replace rail and crossties, outside the Cheverly Metrorail station and conduct bridge maintenance on the aerial structure outside the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., Friday, May 29, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 31.
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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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
News release issued at 12:40 pm, April 28, 2009.