Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 20, 2005
Metro Is Working on the Railroad this Summer as itUpdates its Track Renovation Schedule
Summer weekend track work will be conducted most weekends through September and will involve temporary station closures and single-track operations.
The summer is usually time for vacation, weekend escapes to the beach, or leaving work early to see a baseball game. So while many local residents will be doing that, Metro will be hard at work throughout the summer upgrading the Metrorail system.
"The track renovation program is part of our major capital program that includes the overhaul and repair of the Metrorail system," said Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Metrorail. "Our trains have run everyday for nearly 30 years, and this work is necessary to keep the system strong and going for the next 30 years and beyond."
For the next three months, Metro is undertaking several major track renovation projects that will require trains to share one track allowing for trains to run in both directions on one track during normal operations. As individual sections of track are repaired, trains must share a single track through the affected area. This "single tracking" can result in delays.
"We are doing our best to avoid impacting Metro customers as much as possible during this process," said Mr. Feil. "However, some work during regular service hours cannot be avoided. The majority of this work is being done late at night and on weekends."
FUTURE WORK DATES:
This schedule is subject to change. Metro will update this schedule by issuing news releases each Thursday with updates, the start and conclusion time of work, and any rail schedule system changes pertinent to the project.
JULY 2005
Weekend of July 29-31
Orange Line: Metro personnel will replace the grout pads on the aerial structure between West Falls Church-VT/UVA and Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metrorail stations, resulting in the closure of the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Dunn Loring-Merrifield stations. This work will require Metro personnel to elevate the pillars along a portion of the aerial structure and insert new grout pads, which are located under the pillars. Once the new grout pads are inserted, the pillars will be lowered onto the new pads. Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Dunn Loring-Merrifield and West Falls Church-VT/UVA stations.
Orange Line: Metro will conduct a switch modernization project at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station. Trains will continue to operate into the station using one track.
AUGUST 2005
Weekend of August 12-14
Orange Line: Metro personnel will replace the grout pads on the aerial structure between West Falls Church-VT/UVA and Dunn Loring Metrorail stations, resulting in the closure of the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Dunn Loring-Merrifield stations. This work will require Metro personnel to elevate the pillars along a portion of the aerial structure and insert new grout pads, which are located under the pillars. Once the new grout pads are inserted, the pillars will be lowered onto the new pads. Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Dunn Loring-Merrifield and West Falls Church-VT/UVA stations.
Weekend of August 19-21
Red Line: Metro personnel will replace the grout pads on the aerial structure between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center stations. This work will require Metro personnel to elevate the pillars along a portion of the aerial structure and insert new grout pads, which are located under the pillars. Once the new pads are inserted, the pillars will be lowered. As a result, Red Line trains will operate in two sections: between the Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations, and between the Glenmont and Medical Center stations. Metro will provide free shuttle bus service between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center stations.
Yellow Line: Metro will conduct its routine structure inspection of the Potomac River bridge between L’Enfant Plaza and Pentagon. This will occur from sunrise to sunset on Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and August 21.
SEPTEMBER 2005
Weekend of September 2-5, (Labor Day Weekend)
Red Line: Metro will conduct a major switch replacement project outside the Takoma Metrorail station. As a result, the Takoma Metrorail station will be closed. Red Line service will operate between the Glenmont and Silver Spring stations, and between the Shady Grove and Fort Totten stations. Metro will provide free shuttle bus service between the Fort Totten and Silver Spring Metrorail stations.
Weekend of September 9-11
Blue/Yellow Line: Metro personnel will conduct switch modernization work outside the Braddock Road Metrorail station. All Blue Line trains will share one track between Van Dorn Street and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station and all Yellow Line trains will share one track between Huntington and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations.
Weekend of September 16-18
Red Line: Metro personnel will replace the grout pads on the aerial structure between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center stations. This work will require Metro personnel to elevate the pillars along a portion of the aerial structure and insert new grout pads, which are located under the pillars. Once the new pads are inserted, the pillars will be lowered. As a result, Red Line trains will operate in two sections: between the Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations, and between the Glenmont and Medical Center stations. Metro will provide free shuttle bus service between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center stations.
Orange Line: Metro personnel will conduct a switch modernization project at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station. All Orange Line trains will share one track between Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA stations.
Blue/Yellow Line: Metro personnel will conduct switch modernization work outside the Braddock Road Metrorail station. All Blue Line trains will share one track between Van Dorn Street and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station and all Yellow Line trains will share one track between Huntington and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations.
News release issued on July 20, 2005.