Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 14, 2010
Customers should expect lengthy delays on Metrorail this weekend
Trains will share one track on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines
Customers can expect lengthy delays of up to 40 minutes this weekend (April 16-18) as old track components are replaced on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines, causing inbound and outbound trains to take turns sharing one track on portions of the rail system.
Riders planning to take the Red, Blue, Orange or Green lines to area sports events this weekend should add up to 40 minutes to their travel times. The Washington Nationals play at Nationals Park on April 16, 17, and 18, the Washington Capitals play at the Verizon Center on April 17, and the DC United play at RFK Stadium on April 17.
Orange and Blue Line Switch Replacement
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 expect lengthy delays this weekend and add at least 40 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be installing a new rail switch at the Rosslyn Metrorail station. A switch is an intersection of the track, where trains can “switch” from one track to another, depending on their destination and route. Trains will share the same track between these locations from 10 p.m. Friday, April 16, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 18.
Throughout the entire weekend, all Blue and Orange Line trains will depart approximately every 20 minutes from the Largo Town Center, Franconia-Springfield, New Carrollton and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations. For people traveling between the Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations, trains will operate approximately every 10 minutes.
Red Line Track Upgrades
Metrorail customers traveling between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights Metrorail stations should expect lengthy delays this weekend and should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will replace aging rail fasteners with new ones to stabilize tracks in that area of the Red Line. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. Friday, April 16, to closing (midnight) on Sunday, April 18.
Throughout the weekend, all Red Line trains will depart approximately every 20 minutes from the Shady Grove Metrorail station. 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. For people traveling between the Friendship Heights and Glenmont Metrorail stations, trains will operate approximately every 10 minutes.
Green Line Rail Replacement
Metrorail customers traveling between the College Park-U of Md and Greenbelt Metrorail stations should expect delays this weekend and should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will be welding new rail on the tracks in that area to replace an old stretch of track. Trains will share one track between these locations on Saturday, April 17, and Sunday, April 18, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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News release issued at 10:51 am, April 14, 2010.