Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 24, 2010

Metrorail increases speeds on Red Line

Work continues between Friendship Heights, Bethesda on outbound track

Metro has increased the speeds of Red Line trains between the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metrorail stations as track maintenance personnel continue to replace rail and rail fasteners during the overnight hours when the system is closed.

Inbound Red Line trains traveling in the direction of Glenmont are operating at normal speeds, up to 59 mph. Outbound trains traveling in the direction of Shady Grove between Friendship Heights and Bethesda are operating at 35 to 40 mph. Metro anticipates having trains return to their normal speeds by next week.

A 15 mph speed restriction was 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.

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, March 26, to closing (midnight) Sunday, March 28, Metro will conduct track maintenance on the Red Line between the Friendship Heights and 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 Medical Center 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 return to Glenmont Metrorail station.

News release issued at 9:46 am, March 24, 2010.