Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 16, 2006

Metro announces weekend service changes

Metrorail passengers can expect minor delays on the Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines this weekend due to weekend track maintenance. Passengers traveling on these rail lines should plan accordingly and add up to 15 minutes to their trips. The weekend service changes are:

On Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19, from opening (7 a.m.) to 7 p.m., Red Line trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail stations. To help expedite the flow of passenger traffic, all Red Line trains that normally operate from Silver Spring to Grosvenor-Strathmore will terminate at Farragut North and return to Silver Spring. Riders traveling beyond Farragut North to Grosvenor-Strathmore and Shady Grove, will need to wait for a Red Line train operating to Shady Grove.

On Saturday, March 18, from 10 p.m. to closing (3 a.m.), Red Line trains will share one track between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations.

On Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19, from opening (7 a.m.) to 7 p.m., Orange Line trains will share one track between Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations. To help expedite the flow of passenger traffic, every other Orange Line train that normally operates from New Carrollton to Vienna/Fairfax-GMU will terminate at West Falls Church-VT/UVA and return to New Carrollton.

On Saturday, March 18, and Sunday, March 19, from opening (7 a.m.) to 4 p.m., Green Line trains will share one track between the Greenbelt and College Park Metrorail stations while Metro tests rail cars.

Blue Line

On Sunday, March 19, from 10 p.m. to closing (midnight), Blue Line trains will share one track between the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s Web site will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow more time for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.

News release issued on March 16, 2006.