Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 28, 2006

Metro’s Winter Track Renovation Schedule Includes Holiday Weekend Closures of Arlington Cemetery and Cheverly Metrorail Stations

Metro will replace nearly 1,560 feet of running rail, 1,500 cross ties and 800 fasteners systemwide, and will smooth out almost 62,000 feet of track systemwide during the first three months of 2007. The work will close two train stations for three days apiece and result in single tracking on the weekends as Metro continues the enhancement of the 106-mile rail system.

Metro is undertaking several major track renovation projects on all lines 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” takes longer for trains to service stations.

Metro is also conducting two major switch replacement projects that will shut down two stations for three days each. During the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend (January 12 to 15), Metro will close the Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station to replace the rail switch. Metrorail will operate on a special schedule and will provide free shuttle bus service between the Pentagon and Rosslyn Metrorail stations.

During the President’s Day holiday weekend (February 16 to 19), Metro will close the Cheverly Metrorail station to replace the rail switch. Orange Line trains will operate that weekend between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Deanwood Metrorail stations with free shuttle buses running between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.

“This winter, we are conducting two major switch replacement projects that will require the closing of Arlington Cemetery and Cheverly Metrorail stations for three days apiece,” said Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Metrorail. “The rail switches outside these stations are almost 30 years old and they have reached their life expectancy. Replacing these switches during the long holiday weekends will ensure a smooth operation through these stations for another 30 years.”

While the majority of this work is done late at night and on weekends, Metro takes into consideration what events are taking place around the area and may postpone or eliminate single-tracking for that weekend.”

All track maintenance work is subject to change. Metro will update this schedule weekly by issuing news releases each Thursday with locations, the start and conclusion time of work, and projected passenger delays.

Metro encourages its customers to check the Metro Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com each Thursday afternoon as weekend track maintenance will be posted on the home page.

Weekday Track Maintenance Schedule

  • Red Line - Trains will share one track between the Silver Spring and Forest Glen Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. most weekdays from Jan. 2 until March 31. Metro personnel will replace fasteners that stabilize the rail tracks.
  • Red Line - Trains will share one track between Van Ness-UDC and Friendship Heights from 10 p.m. to closing (midnight) Sundays to Thursdays from Jan. 7 to Feb. 22 as personnel replace the running rail that supports and guides the wheels of the rail cars and replace fasteners.
  • Blue and Yellow Line - All trains will share one track between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Braddock Road Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays from Jan. 2 until March 3. Metro personnel will replace crossties and insulators along this portion of the rail line.
  • Green Line - All trains will share one track between the Greenbelt and West Hyattsville Metrorail stations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., most weekdays from January 2 to February 3. Metro personnel will be conducting maintenance to smooth the rails between these locations.

Weekend Track Maintenance Schedule

Weekend of January 12-15:

  • Blue Line: Metro will replace the entire switch or interlocking outside the Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station during the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The Arlington Cemetery station will be closed the entire weekend. Metrorail will operate on a special schedule, and will also provide free shuttle bus service between the Pentagon and Rosslyn Metrorail stations.

Weekend of January 19-20:

  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail station due to rail and fastener replacement.

Weekend of January 26-28:

  • Blue and Yellow Line: Trains will share one track between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and King Street Metrorail stations while personnel conduct switch maintenance at the Braddock Road Metrorail Station.
  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail station due to rail and fastener replacement.

Weekend of February 2-4:

  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood and Takoma Metrorail stations due to switch maintenance work at the Fort Totten Metrorail station.

Weekend of February 9-11:

  • Orange Line: Trains will share one track from Minnesota Avenue to New Carrollton due to switch maintenance at the New Carrollton Metrorail station.
  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail station due to rail and fastener replacement.

Weekend of February 16-19:

  • Orange Line: The Cheverly Metrorail station will be closed the entire three-day President’s Day Weekend as Metro replaces the entire switch outside the station. All Orange Line trains will terminate at the Deanwood Metrorail station. Metro will provide free shuttle buses from Deanwood to the New Carrollton Metrorail station.
  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail station due to rail and fastener replacement.

Weekend of March 2-4:

  • Blue Line: Trains will share one track between Stadium Armory and the Benning Road Metrorail stations, while personnel replace floating slabs.

Weekend of March 9-11:

  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Takoma and Silver Spring Metrorail stations due to switch maintenance at the Silver Spring station.

Weekend of March 23-25:

  • Red Line: Trains will share one track between the Takoma and Silver Spring Metrorail stations due to switch maintenance at the Silver Spring station.

News release issued on December 28, 2006.