Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 12, 2006
Metro Details Major Weekend Track Rehabilitation Work Scheduled for the Blue Line
Work To Affect Customers Who Travel Between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail Stations
Metro will undertake a major track rehabilitation project on the Blue Line beginning this weekend that will impact service between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations. While these stations will remain open, customers using the Blue Line on the Virginia side of the rail system should add anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes to their travel plans while using this section of the Blue Line in Virginia.
Franconia-Springfield to King Street - Cross Tie and Fastener Replacement
When: Friday, July 14, 10 p.m., to Sunday, July 16, midnight
Friday, August 4, 10 p.m., to Sunday, August 6, midnight
Friday, August 11, 10 p.m., to Sunday, August 13, midnight
Friday, August 25, 10 p.m., to Sunday, August 27, midnight
Friday, September 1, 10 p.m., to Sunday, September 3, midnight
Friday, September 15, 10 p.m., to Sunday, September 17, 3 a.m.
Friday, September 22, 10 p.m., to Sunday, September 24, midnight
Friday, September 29, 10 p.m., to Sunday, October 1, midnight
During these eight weekends of work, Metro personnel will replace nearly 13,700 fasteners and 6,600 cross ties between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations on the Blue Line. Fasteners are rectangular shaped plates that help hold the rail in place, and cross ties support the load of the train as well as anchor the track system.
The following service pattern will be in effect during the eight weekends of work:
• On Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Metrorail will operate special six-car shuttle trains between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations. The special shuttle trains will share one track between these locations and operate every 12 to 15 minutes.
• Once a shuttle train arrives at the King Street Metrorail station, passengers will transfer to a Blue or Yellow Line train at King Street to their final destination.
• On Saturday and Sunday, between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., all other Blue Line trains will run between the Largo Town Center and Huntington Metrorail stations.
• On Saturday and Sunday after 9:30 p.m., all Blue Line trains will share one track from Braddock Road to Franconia-Springfield.
• During this work period, passengers coming from Virginia are encouraged to use the Huntington Metrorail station located on the Yellow Line for rail service into Washington.
• Parking is free at all Metro parking lots on weekends.
To alert customers about this work, Metro will hang signs and banners in key stations, place notices on station kiosks, make train and system announcements and have Metro Information Persons, volunteers at key Metrorail stations providing customer assistance. Additional information is available on Metro’s web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
The Trip Planner, located 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 July 12, 2006.