Metro News Release
For immediate release: February 25, 2004
Major rehabilitation track work continues this weekend on Metro’s Red Line
All trains to share the same track between Farragut North and Union Station
This weekend, as part of its Infrastructure Renewal Program to ensure safe and reliable transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) will conduct a major track rehabilitation project on the Red Line. To minimize customer inconvenience, this major rehabilitation project will take place this weekend because ridership is lightest on weekends. Customers are advised to plan accordingly by building extra time into their schedule while utilizing the Red Line this weekend. Delays are expected to be up to 30 minutes.
The project is a switch replacement, a piece of track that enables trains to switch from one track to another.
Judiciary Square - switch replacement
When: Friday, February 27, 9 p.m., to Sunday, February 29, midnight.During this time, Metro personnel will replace the switch outside the Judiciary Square Metrorail station on the Red Line. 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.
Red Line weekend service pattern:
Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont, however, trains will share the same track between Farragut North and Union Station. Red Line trains from opening until 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday will run every 13 minutes between Shady Grove and Dupont Circle, and between Glenmont and Rhode Island Avenue. However, Red Line trains sharing the same track between Farragut North and Union Station may run up to 30 minutes. Prior to entering the single track area, the first train to arrive at Dupont Circle and Rhode Island Avenue respectively will hold for 11 minutes, waiting for rail traffic to clear from the opposite direction, and to wait for the following train to be within two minutes of that first train holding. To expedite train traffic, two trains sharing the same track and proceeding in the same direction, between Farragut North and Union Station will be separated two minutes apart before two trains will be permitted to pass in the opposite direction.
After 9 p.m., on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all Red Line trains will operate up to 30 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
As a result of this weekend track work and the longer waits for trains, all Red Line trains will operate with six cars.
Customer information
Customers using the Red Line on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday can access train schedules through Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
Travel Tip: Customers who normally travel the Red Line between Glenmont and Takoma and the downtown area, can speed up their trip if they transfer at Fort Totten and ride the Green Line into downtown Washington to stations between Gallery Place-Chinatown and L’Enfant Plaza. At L’Enfant Plaza, customers can switch to the Blue and Orange Lines to their final destinations. "Once again this weekend, we are strongly encouraging our customers who normally use the Red Line to plan accordingly and build extra time into their schedule while we perform this necessary track project," said Lem Proctor, Chief Operating Officer for Rail.
To alert customers about these rehabilitation projects, station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system. Additional information will be available on Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
MCI Center sports events
This weekend, the MCI Center will host the following sports event:
- Saturday, February 28
NBA Basketball: Washington Wizards vs Los Angeles Lakers, 3:30 p.m.
MCI Center travel tips
Customers who ride the Blue and Orange Lines, and normally transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line, should transfer at L’Enfant Plaza and ride either the Yellow or Green Line to Gallery Place-Chinatown. Customers who ride the Blue Line from Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street and normally transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line, should transfer to the Yellow Line. The first Yellow Line transfer point is King Street.
Customers who exclusively use the Red Line are strongly encouraged to plan accordingly, and build extra time into their schedules, as their waits will be longer for trains before and after this event. "We recognize the inconvenience that this phase of our Metro Infrastructure Renewal Program will cause," said Mr. Proctor. "At the same time, we want our customers to know that we will be there for them, providing the best possible level of service. It may take customers slightly longer to get to where they are going, but they will arrive at their destinations safely."
For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.
News release issued on February 25, 2004.