Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 3, 2010
Metro reminds customers of this weekend's last train departures on the Red Line between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail station
Labor Day Weekend track work will close five Red Lines stations
This weekend, Metro will close the Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations from 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, to 1 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, while maintenance crews replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several additional projects in the area of the closed stations.
The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. Customers using the Red Line should add 40 minutes to their travel plans to transfer to a free shuttle bus to get past the affected work area. Throughout the weekend, extra Metro employees will be on hand to guide customers to their connecting shuttle buses. Service will resume when the Metrorail system opens at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, Sept. 7, with speed restrictions in place along the work area.
In addition, track workers will focus on replacing old components to keep the rail system in a state of good repair. They will replace two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station and install 750 new track fasteners, 1,720 new crossties, 525 feet of new track, 500 new rail insulators, new tunnel safety lights and repair up to 4800 feet of water leaks in the tunnels. To help ensure fire-safe conditions, Metro will also replace 6,400 feet of emergency fire lines along the tracks. To support upgraded cell phone access in the Metrorail system, 2,400 feet of new fiber optic communications cables will be installed. The improved cell phone access is a Congressional mandate and serves as an added customer convenience as well as a safety enhancement. New heater tape will be installed along the outdoor tracks to help improve rail conditions during times of the year when ice and snow is expected. Heater tape helps ensure that there is less of a build-up of ice or snow on the tracks during inclement winter conditions and helps maintain rail service during such storms.
Last Red Line Trains between Fort Totten and Glenmont – Friday, Sept. 3
The last trains will operate through the work zone prior to 10 p.m. because personnel need time to remove power from both tracks and to assemble maintenance crews safely in the designated work zones.
On Friday, Sept. 3, prior to closure of the Red Line between the Fort Totten and Glenmont Metrorail stations, the last Glenmont bound Red Line train through the work area will depart Shady Grove at 8:58 p.m., Fort Totten at 9:47 p.m., Takoma at 9:50 p.m., Silver Spring at 9:53 p.m., Forest Glen at 9:56 p.m., Wheaton at 9:59 p.m. and arrive at the Glenmont Metrorail station at 10:01 p.m. The last Shady Grove bound Red Line train through the work area will depart the Glenmont Metrorail station at 9:35 p.m., Wheaton at 9:38 p.m., Forest Glen at 9:41 p.m., Silver Spring at 9:44 p.m., Takoma at 9:47 p.m., Fort Totten at 9:49 p.m., and arrive at the Shady Grove Metrorail station at 10:38 p.m.
Last Red Line Train Departures from Fort Totten
In order for Shady Grove bound Red Line trains to make their final connections for the Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green lines, the last train will depart the Fort Totten Metrorail station at 2:51 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 4 (late Friday evening) and Sunday, Sept. 5 (late Saturday evening), 11:49 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 5 and 12:49 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 7 (after Monday night’s football game).
To alert customers about this project, signs are posted in Metrorail stations. Station and train announcements will be made throughout the Metrorail system. The Trip Planner, located on Metro=s Web site, will not reflect the impact of this work on its schedules. Customers should allow at least 40 minutes extra for their trips because of this work. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780.
News release issued at 10:43 am, September 3, 2010.