Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 27, 2006
Metro details its track renovation schedule for spring
Weekday and weekend track work will be conducted this spring and will involve single-track operations causing minor delays.
“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 30 years, and this work is necessary to keep the system strong and going for the next 30 years and beyond.”
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.
As part of Metro’s continuing efforts to maintain the 106-mile system, Metro’s Board of Directors this month approved an $8.5 million program over the next three years to retrofit 27 turnout switches (a turnout switch is a section of track that allows a train to switch from one track to another section of track on the mainline or in a rail yard) and 16 double crossovers (a section of track that allows a train to crossover from a section of track to another section of track). The turnouts and double crossovers identified for replacement have been in service for nearly 20 years and they are located at various locations on Metro’s mainline system and in the maintenance yards.
“We do our best to avoid impacting Metro customers as much as possible during this process, however, some work during regular service hours cannot be avoided,” said Mr. Feil. “While the majority of this work is done late at night and on weekends, we do take into consideration what events are taking place around the area and may postpone or eliminate single-tracking for that weekend.”
The weekday and weekend schedule is subject to change. Metro will update this schedule by issuing news releases each Thursday with locations, the start and conclusion time of work, and projected passenger delays.
Red Line - Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays until June 30. Metro personnel will replace fasteners that stabilize the rail tracks. When single tracking occurs, Red Line trains normally operating to Grosvenor-Strathmore will terminate at Friendship Heights and return to Silver Spring.
Orange Line - All trains will share one track between the New Carrollton and Cheverly Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays until May 5. Metro personnel will readjust the alignment of the rails on this portion of the Orange Line.
Orange Line - All trains will share one track between the Ballston-MU and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays from May 1, to June 30. Metro personnel will replace crossties, the track support structures along this portion of the Orange Line.
Blue Line - All trains will share one track between the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays from May 1, to June 30. Metro personnel will make station platform repairs at the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail station.
Yellow Line - All trains will share one track between the Huntington and King Street Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. most weekdays from May 1, to July 21. Metro personnel will install communications cables between these locations.
Weekend track maintenance schedule
Weekend of April 8-9
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail stations while personnel replace fasteners that stabilize rail tracks. Red Line trains that normally operate to Grosvenor-Strathmore that weekend will terminate at Farragut North and return to Silver Spring.
Weekend of April 15-16
Blue/Orange Line: Blue Line trains will share one track from Eastern Market to Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Orange Line trains will share one track from Eastern Market to Minnesota Avenue while personnel replace rail outside of the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station.
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as Metro will conduct a switch modernization project at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station.
Weekend of April 29-30
Blue/Orange Line: Blue Line trains will share one track from Eastern Market to Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and Orange Line trains will share from Eastern Market to Minnesota Avenue while personnel replace rail outside of the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station.
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as Metro will conduct a switch modernization project at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station.
Weekend of May 6-7
Blue/Yellow Line: Blue and Yellow Line trains will share one track between the King Street and Pentagon City Metrorail stations while personnel conduct a switch replacement project outside the Braddock Road Metrorail station.
Orange Line: Trains will share one track between Ballston-MU and the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations while personnel continue crosstie replacement work.
Weekend of May 13-14
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations while personnel replace running rail.
Blue Line: Trains will share one track between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations while personnel replace rubber pads underneath the rails.
Weekend of May 20-21
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as Metro will conduct a switch modernization project at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station.
Weekend of May 27-28
Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as Metro will conduct a switch modernization project at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station.
News release issued on March 27, 2006.