Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 24, 2009
Takoma Metrorail station to remain open this weekend
Expect fewer trains, slower service to continue on Red Line
The Takoma Metrorail station on the Red Line will keep its regular hours this weekend, from 5 a.m. to 3 a.m., on Friday, July 24, 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, and from 7 a.m. to midnight on Sunday, July 26. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will not be working on the tracks between the Takoma and Fort Totten Metrorail stations.
However, Red Line riders should expect fewer and slower-moving trains on the line while the NTSB continues its investigation into the cause of the June 22 train accident near the Fort Totten Metrorail station.
At this point, it is unclear what the NTSB’s needs may be after Sunday and the impact on Metrorail service. In the meantime, passengers can expect that their trips may take an additional 30 minutes or possibly more to complete, and they should build that added time into their plans.
Trains must continue to move one at a time at a reduced speed between the Takoma and Fort Totten Metrorail stations. This causes the other trains along the line to move slower and wait for the ones that are passing through the accident area. It also results in fewer trains along the busy Red Line because the system’s ability to move more trains is impacted when they must move one at a time between the two stations.
If trains get backed up, it is possible that some may be offloaded to turn trains around. This maneuver will allow Metro to get some trains to Glenmont, which in turn can provide more service for people traveling from Glenmont or Silver Spring into downtown Washington.
Passengers also may notice trains slowing down through certain sections of tracks on other lines where Metro workers are inspecting or repairing track signaling equipment. Metro is conducting more frequent and more stringent monitoring of its track signaling equipment as part of an effort to fulfill the NTSB’s recommendation of instituting greater review of track circuits and eventually developing a real-time monitoring system.
Red Line Accident Investigation: Metro employees will distribute these flyers at select Red Line stations from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24.
Media contact for this news release: Cathy Asato or Candace Smith at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 1:57 pm, July 24, 2009.