Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 22, 2010
Metrorail speed restrictions in place on Red Line
15 mph speed restrictions between Friendship Heights and Bethesda
Metro has a 15 mph speed restriction in place on the Red Line between the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metrorail stations due to track work that is taking place during the overnight hours to change out rail and rail fasteners.
The speed restrictions were installed late last week after an assessment identified the immediate need to replace running rail and fasteners on both tracks between the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metrorail stations.
Metro personnel will be working during the overnight hours when the system is closed this week to make the necessary upgrades in this particular area. Metro anticipates having trains return to their normal speeds in this location by the middle of this week.
This past weekend, Metro conducted track maintenance on the Red Line between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations on the inbound track in the direction of the Glenmont Metrorail station. During the weekend, Metro replaced 579 fasteners and installed 3,200 feet of new track, 85 new wood ties and 73 new third rail insulators.
As a result of this work, a 15 mph speed restriction is in place on the inbound track from the Grosvenor-Strathmore to Medical Center Metrorail station. Metro anticipates having trains return to their normal speeds in this location by Tuesday morning (March 23).
Starting at 10 p.m., Friday, March 26, to closing (midnight), Sunday, March 28, Metro will conduct track maintenance on the Red Line between Friendship Heights and the Medical Center Metrorail stations that will cause inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track. Customers traveling on this portion of the Red Line should add 30 minutes to their trips.
This upcoming weekend, Metro plans to replace 1,600 feet of rail, and 500 to 600 rail fasteners that stabilize tracks between the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metrorail stations.
To help expedite rail travel into downtown Washington, every other Red Line train traveling toward the Shady Grove Metrorail station will terminate at the Friendship Heights Metrorail station and will return to the Glenmont Metrorail station.
###
News release issued at 11:54 am, March 22, 2010.