Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 31, 2010
Metro sets April weeknight track maintenance schedule
Customers should add 20 to 30 minutes for weeknight travel, expect lengthy waits between trains
On most weeknights in April, Metro employees will replace track fasteners, upgrade track circuits, weld new rail on the tracks, make repairs to concrete slabs underneath the rails and repair surfaces underneath the rails. Customers should add at least 20 to 30 minutes of additional travel time to their schedules from Sunday to Thursday nights between 8 and 10 p.m. to closing (midnight) on all rail lines. Customers should expect lengthy waits between trains during this timeframe.
Western end of Red Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro personnel to remove old rail fasteners and replace them with new ones to stabilize the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., through closing (midnight) from March 31 to April 1; April 4 to 8; April 11 to 15; April 19 to 22; and April 26 to 29.
This portion of vital work on the Red Line between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations is in conjunction with the Red Line rehabilitation contract, which is extending the lifecycle of the track and related systems by rebuilding those areas. This specific work is an extension of Metro’s overhaul work of replacing track fasteners, track, crossties and insulators.
Eastern end of Red Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Fort Totten and Silver Spring Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to allow personnel to upgrade the surface underneath the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m., through closing (midnight) from April 4 to 8; April 11 to 15; and April 18 to 22.
To help expedite rail travel into downtown Washington, every other Red Line train traveling toward the Glenmont Metrorail station will terminate at the Brookland-CUA Metrorail station and will return to the Shady Grove Metrorail station.
Blue Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro to replace concrete slabs underneath the rails in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 9:30 p.m., through closing (midnight) from April 11 to 15.
Blue and Yellow Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations on either the Blue or Yellow Lines should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing old rail fasteners and replacing them with new ones to stabilize the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. through closing (midnight) from April 4 to 8; and April 11 to 15.
During this time frame, all Yellow Line trains will terminate at the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station.
Blue and Orange Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Federal Center and Eastern Market Metrorail stations on the Blue and Orange Lines should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be making track circuit upgrades. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. through closing (midnight) from April 26 to 29.
Orange Line Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing cross ties in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. through closing (midnight) from April 4 to 8; and April 11 to 15.
Green Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Greenbelt and College Park-U of Md Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding rail in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 8 p.m. through closing (midnight) from April 19 to 22.
Yellow Line Track Maintenance Sunday through Thursday nights
Metrorail customers traveling between the Pentagon City and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing old rail fasteners and replacing them with new ones to stabilize the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. through closing (midnight) from April 18 to 22; and April 25 to 29.
Please note, this schedule is subject to change. Metro riders should visit www.metroopensdoors.com at the end of each month to see the following month’s schedule of work. Metro will continue to post news releases each Thursday as a reminder to provide updates about any last minute track maintenance schedule changes.
Be one of the first to find out when Metrorail is experiencing a service disruption by signing up to receive an e-alert. You can personalize Metro e-alerts by signing up to monitor service on specific lines on specific days of the week and on specific times of the day. You can always unsubscribe or change your e-alert preferences. To sign up, visit http://www.wmata.com/riding/alerts/metrorail_alerts.cfm.
###
News release issued at 12:51 pm, March 31, 2010.