Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 5, 2009
Metro details upcoming track maintenance work on Blue and Yellow lines
Blue, Yellow Line riders should add 45 minutes to weekend, late evening trips
This month, Metrorail Blue and Yellow Line riders should build 45 minutes to their weeknight, late evening trips as the transit agency prepares to conduct a major track maintenance rehabilitation program during the three-day Labor Day holiday weekend.
As part of the Labor Day weekend track rehabilitation program, Metro will replace the entire interlocking or rail switch at the Pentagon City Metrorail station on the Blue and Yellow lines. A switch, or interlocking, is an intersection in the track, where trains can switch from one track to another, depending on their destination and route. Before the rail switch can be replaced, personnel need to conduct preliminary work on the rail switch in preparation for its removal.
As a result of this critical maintenance work, there will be no Blue Line service between Rosslyn and King Street Metrorail stations, and Yellow Line trains will share one track between Braddock Road and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations during the following dates and times:
• Sunday, August 9, to Thursday, August 13, from 10 p.m. to closing (midnight).
• Sunday, August 16, to Thursday, August 20, from 10 p.m. to closing (midnight).
• Sunday, August 23, to Thursday, August 27, from 11 p.m. to closing (midnight).
• Sunday, August 30, to Thursday, September 3, from 11 p.m. to closing (midnight).
Yellow Line Service Pattern
• Yellow Line trains will operate once every 36 minutes between the Fort Totten and Huntington Metrorail station, and will share one track between the Braddock Road and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations.
Blue Line Service Pattern
• The Blue Line will operate in two segments, between the Largo Town Center and Rosslyn Metrorail stations every 20 minutes, and between the Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations.
• There will be no Blue Line service between the Rosslyn and King Street Metrorail stations.
• The Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station will be closed during this time period because the station normally closes at 10 p.m. during the spring and summer.
• A special Blue Line shuttle train will operate between Franconia-Springfield and King Street Metrorail stations to connect riders to the Yellow Line.
• Metrobus will operate free shuttle bus service between the Rosslyn and Pentagon Metrorail stations.
Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, Metro will conduct a complete track overhaul between the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Pentagon City Metrorail stations on the Blue and Yellow lines from 10 p.m., Friday, September 4, to 4 a.m., Tuesday, September 8.
This overhaul will include the replacement of the rail switch at the Pentagon City Metrorail station, replacement of running rail, cross ties, tie plates, stone ballast, stud bolts and fasteners and bridge maintenance repair at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station. As a result of this work, trains will not be able to operate between the Pentagon City, Crystal City and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations.
Metro officials are in the early planning stages of developing an operation plan for Labor Day weekend. Metro anticipates operating free shuttle bus service between the Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations. Full details on the Labor Day weekend service plan will be made available later this month.
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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 4:44 pm, August 5, 2009.