Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 11, 2009
Metro's Columbus Day weekend track work on schedule
Waterfront-SEU, Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter and Green Line service at L’Enfant Plaza to reopen Tuesday morning
The replacement of the entire rail interlocking (four switches) at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station (Green and Yellow Line platform) and the Yellow Line bridge inspection and fastener replacement on the bridge that has resulted in the closure of the Waterfront-SEU, Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations and no Green Line service at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station during the three-day Columbus Day weekend is progressing on schedule. The three stations are expected to reopen on time -- at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Oct. 13.
The track switch replacement is work recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The free shuttle buses have been busy throughout the weekend with buses filling up as trains empty at the Navy Yard, Anacostia and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations. Through Saturday, more than 23,788 people used the shuttle buses to help complete their trips.
Eighty-eight additional Metro employees along with Metro Transit Police officers have been on site guiding customers from the rail platforms to the shuttle buses to assist them in completing their trips. They also have been busy answering questions from customers.
Special Metrobus Shuttle Service for Sunday, Oct. 11
As a result of numerous street closures for the “Bike for the Heart” ride on Pennsylvania Ave and the National Equality March, the local shuttle bus operating between the Gallery Pl-Chinatown and Navy Yard Metrorail stations will only operate between the Navy Yard and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations until from 5 p.m., today, Sunday, Oct. 11. The shuttle bus will not continue to the Archives-Navy Mem’l Penn Quarter and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations during this time because vehicles will not be allowed to cross Pennsylvania Avenue during the march.
As a result of this service change, Metro will operate a special free shuttle bus loop service between the Gallery Pl-Chinatown and Metro Center Metrorail stations until 5 p.m.
The two other express special shuttle bus routes between the Gallery Pl-Chinatown and Navy Yard, and the Gallery Pl-Chinatown and Anacostia Metrorail stations are not affected. People who want to cross the National Mall may use the Blue, Orange or Yellow lines between the L’Enfant Plaza and Metro Center Metrorail stations. Customers who need to get to the Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter Metrorail station are encouraged to ride Metrorail to the Gallery Pl- Chinatown Metrorail station or the Federal Triangle Metrorail station and walk a short distance to the Archives station.
Columbus Day Monday Service
As a reminder, the Metrorail system will open at 5 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 12, Columbus Day. All trains on all rail lines will operate every 12 to 15 minutes during the day from the end of each rail terminal, and after 9:30 p.m., every 15 minutes from the end of each Red Line rail terminal and every 20 minutes from the end of each rail terminal on all other rail lines.
Metro’s free shuttle bus service on the Yellow and Green lines will also begin at 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, and will continue until the system closes at midnight.
Throughout the remainder of the day, the Green Line is closed between the Navy Yard and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations. The Waterfront-SEU and Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations are also closed. There is no Green Line service at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station.
The Green Line is operating in two segments -- between the Branch Avenue and Navy Yard Metrorail stations and between the Greenbelt and Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail stations.
The Yellow Line will continue to operate between the Huntington and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations with a stop at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station on the lower level. There is no Yellow Line service between the Archives-Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter and Fort Totten Metrorail stations.
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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel at
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 10:43 am, October 11, 2009.