Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 17, 2005

Metro to Purchase Additional Track Maintenance Equipment

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Board of Directors yesterday gave approval to purchase two new pieces of track equipment essential to the continuous quality of the Metrorail system.

Metro maintains 138 miles of track, including its maintenance yards. The two new pieces of equipment, called utility spot tampers, are designed to enhance the quality of the Metrorail ride and reduce the number of speed restrictions put in place upon the completion of track maintenance in the Metrorail system.

The new $400,000 piece of track equipment is just the latest in a series of enhancements recently announced by Metro aimed at improving the quality of the rail system. Some of these other enhancements include:

Adding 24 new positions for track inspection and maintenance crews to examine Metrorail tracks to improve overall system performance and safety;

Purchasing a minimum of 400 tons (20,400 feet) of rail per year for up to four years and labor and materials to weld sections of rail in place as part of its ongoing maintenance cycle to replace worn running rail; and

Conducting additional track inspections of the Metrorail system through the use of specialized ultrasonic rail equipment.

News release issued on June 17, 2005.