Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 25, 2009

Cracked rails slow Green and Red Line service this afternoon

Customers can anticipate delays due to cracked rails at West Hyattsville and Medical Center

Cracked rails discovered near the West Hyattsville and Medical Center Metrorail stations will cause delays into the afternoon rush hour.

A cracked rail was discovered at 12:58 p.m. near the West Hyattsville Metrorail station in the direction of Greenbelt. While Metro track crews make repairs, Green Line trains are sharing a single track between the Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza Metrorail stations. Riders may experience delays up to 30 minutes.

A second cracked rail was discovered at 1:50 p.m., outside the Medical Center Metrorail station on the Red Line in the direction of Glenmont. While Metro crews make repairs, Red Line trains will share one track between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Friendship Heights Metrorail station. Riders may experience delays up to 30 minutes. Shuttle bus service will be established between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations.

Due to the continuing June 22 accident investigation on the Red Line at Fort Totten, Metro advises customers to utilize free Metrobus shuttles between the Silver Spring, Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations. Metro also will provide shuttle buses and its regular Metrobus routes 70/71 and 79 (Georgia Avenue) service from the Georgia Ave-Petworth and Silver Spring Metrorail stations. People can expect long waits for buses as a full Metrorail train often carries 100 people or more per car and a bus can only hold about 50 people at a time.


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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.

News release issued at 2:29 pm, June 25, 2009.