Metro News Release
For immediate release: February 16, 2010
Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station escalator rehabilitation work
Escalators to be out-of-service for 10 weeks
Metro will rebuild one of the escalators between the platform and mezzanine levels at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station beginning Feb. 22, as part of the continued rehabilitation program for its aging escalators. This will be the first of five escalators in the station to be rehabilitated.
Escalator rebuilding and rehabilitation work includes replacing a majority of the escalator’s mechanical parts, such as energy saving devices and safety devices with new ones to ensure the escalator operates safely and reliably for customers. The rebuilding extends the life of the escalator. Work will also include the installation of new corrosion resistant electrical boxes and new or rehabilitated steps. The rebuilding process typically takes 10 to 12 weeks. Metro has 588 escalators system-wide, more than any other transit system in North America.
Signs indicating the specific type of mechanical work and the estimated date of the unit's return to service will be displayed in the platform level of the station. Customers may also view the status of all escalators on Metro’s website:
http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_service_status/elevator_escalator.cfm
Metro is committed to running all available escalator units for customer convenience. However, mechanical parts may not always be off the shelf parts that are readily available, and some parts have to be custom-made or rebuilt, a process that typically adds time to the repair schedule. Some of the work required to repair the units is done off-site, such as refurbishing steps and rebuilding gearboxes and motors.
For additional information on Metrorail elevator and escalator work, visit http://www.wmata.com/rail/elevators_escalators/.
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Media contact for this news release: Bessy Guevara or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 11:48 am, February 16, 2010.