Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 31, 2010
Metro sets April weekend track maintenance schedule
Lengthy waits between trains expected on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines
In April, Metro will replace rail switches at the Rosslyn Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines, replace fasteners and conduct bridge repair work on the Red Line, and weld rail on the Green Line. Customers should expect significant travel delays during the weekends of April 16 to 18, April 23 to April 25, and April 30 to May 2 as intervals between trains will be lengthy.
Metro will not conduct major track maintenance during the National Cherry Blossom festival on the first two weekends of April.
Friday, April 16, to Sunday, April 18
Orange and Blue Lines – Metrorail customers traveling between the Court House and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations on the Orange Line, and between the Arlington Cemetery and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations on the Blue Line should add at least 40 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing a rail switch at the Rosslyn Metrorail station. A switch is an intersection in the track, where trains can “switch” from one track to another, depending on their destination and route. Trains will share track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m., on Friday, April 16, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 18.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace rail fasteners that stabilize tracks in that area of the Red Line. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, April 16, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 18.
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.
This portion of work on the Red Line between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations is part of a larger multi-year Red Line rehabilitation project that will run through 2013.
Green Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations on Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, April 23, to Sunday, April 25
Orange and Blue Lines – Metrorail customers traveling between the Court House and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations on the Orange Line, and between the Arlington Cemetery and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations on the Blue Line should add at least 40 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing a rail switch at the Rosslyn Metrorail station. Trains will share track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m., on Friday, April 23, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 25.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace rail fasteners that stabilize tracks in that area of the Red Line. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, April 23, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 25.
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.
This portion of work on the Red Line between the Medical Center and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations is part of a larger multi-year Red Line rehabilitation project that will run through 2013.
Red Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be conducting maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks that cross a bridge outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, April 23, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 25.
Friday, April 30, to Sunday, May 2
Blue Line -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Braddock Road and Van Dorn Metrorail stations on the Blue Line should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be replacing cross ties and welding rail in that area of the Blue Line. Trains will share one track between these locations Friday on April 30 at 10:00 p.m. to closing (midnight) on Sunday, May 2.
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.
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News release issued at 12:54 pm, March 31, 2010.