Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 7, 2010
Metro successfully completes Labor Day weekend track work
All Metrorail stations reopened on-time Tuesday morning
The track overhaul on the Red Line that closed the Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont Metrorail stations during the three-day Labor Day weekend was completed successfully and all five stations reopened on time -- at 5 a.m. today, Tuesday, Sept. 7.
This weekend, track workers focused on replacing old components to keep the rail system in a state of good repair. They replaced two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station and installed 750 new track fasteners, 1,720 new crossties, 525 feet of new track, 500 new rail insulators, new tunnel safety lights and repaired up to 4,800 feet of water leaks in the tunnels. To help ensure fire-safe conditions, Metro replaced 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 was 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 was 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.
Through the remainder of the week, Red Line trains operating between the Forest Glen and Takoma Metrorail stations will travel at reduced speeds because of the maintenance work that occurred during the weekend.
The free shuttle buses were busy throughout the weekend with buses filling up as trains emptied at the Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, Fort Totten, Takoma and Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail stations. Approximately 37,762 customers used the shuttle buses to help complete their trips during the entire weekend of work.
As a reminder, during the Columbus Day Holiday weekend (Oct. 8-11) Metro will close the McPherson Square Metrorail station as Metro replaces the rail switch outside the McPherson Square Metrorail station. This track switch replacement is work recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Additional details on the Columbus Day Holiday weekend project will be made available later this week.
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News release issued at 11:07 am, September 7, 2010.