Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 27, 2010
Metro sets October weekend track maintenance schedule
Work planned on all rail lines to maintain state of good repair
This month, in addition to the Columbus Day Holiday weekend closure on the Blue and Orange Lines between the Farragut West and the Metro Center Metrorail stations, Metro will also conduct major track work on all five of Metro’s rail lines to keep and maintain the rail system in a state of good repair and help improve service reliability. All weekend projects will impact travel times and cause delays.
Friday, October 1, to Sunday, October 3
Red Line Platform Repairs -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, October 1 to closing on Sunday, October 3.
Red Line Elevated Track Maintenance -- 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 conduct necessary maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 1, to closing on Sunday, October 3.
Yellow and Green Line Track Switch and New Rail Installation – Metrorail customers traveling between the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center and U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel times while Metro officials will install a new track switch to improve rail system safety and weld new rail outside the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station. The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 1, to closing on Sunday, October 3.
Blue and Orange Line Track Switch Installation – Metro officials will replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several additional projects between the Farragut West and the lower level of the Metro Center Metrorail station, which will necessitate the closure of two Blue and Orange Line stations and the partial closure of a third throughout Columbus Day Weekend, (Oct. 8-11). The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.
In addition, track workers will focus on replacing old components to keep the rail system in a state of good repair. They will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station which was an NTSB recommendation, install 215 new track fasteners, new track, new tunnel safety lights, and repair water leaks in the tunnels.
The Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations will be closed and there will be no Blue and Orange Line service at the Metro Center Metrorail station during the Columbus Day Holiday weekend. Red Line service will continue through Metro Center. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 5 a.m.
The Blue and Orange Lines will each be split in two sections throughout the three-day Columbus Day Holiday Weekend. Blue Line trains will operate between the Franconia-Springfield and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations and between the Largo Town Center and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations. Orange Line trains also will operate in two sections, between the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and Foggy Bottom Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations.
To help people get around the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Foggy Bottom-GWU and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations. Customers should build an extra 40 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone.
Red Line Platform Repairs -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, October 8, to closing on Monday, October 11.
Yellow Line Landscaping – Metrorail customers Metrorail customers traveling between the Huntington and Braddock Road Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will conduct landscaping repairs at the Huntington Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 8, to closing on Monday, October 11.
Orange Line Cross Tie Rail Installation – 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 replace cross ties and weld new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 15, to closing on Sunday, October 17.
Throughout the weekend, every other Orange Line train traveling in the direction of the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station will terminate at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station and return to the New Carrollton Metrorail station.
Orange Line Ground Stabilization – Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will make repairs to stabilize the ground outside the Cheverly Metrorail station that shifted because of work by a developer on adjacent property. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 15, to closing on Sunday, October 17.
Yellow Line Annual Bridge Inspection and Communication Cable Installation – Metrorail customers traveling between the L’Enfant Plaza and Pentagon Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time because Metro will conduct its annual inspection of the rail bridge over the Potomac River and install communications cable in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail stations... Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 15, to closing on Sunday, October 17.
Green Line Communication Cable Installation – Metrorail customers traveling between the Navy Yard and Anacostia Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time while personnel install communications cable in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail stations. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 15, to closing on Sunday, October 17.
Red Line Rail Switch Repairs – Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time while personnel make repairs to a rail switch outside the Shady Grove Metrorail station. Trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 17.
Friday, October 22, to Sunday, October 24
Red Line Platform Repairs -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, October 22 to closing on Sunday, October 24.
Red Line Elevated Track Maintenance -- 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 conduct necessary maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 22, to closing on Sunday, October 24.
Orange Line Ground Stabilization – Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will make repairs to stabilize the ground outside the Cheverly Metrorail station that shifted because of work by a developer on adjacent property. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 22, to 3 a.m. on Sunday, October. 24.
Green Line Communications Cable Installation – Metrorail customers traveling between the L’Enfant Plaza and Navy Yard Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time while personnel install communications cable in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail stations. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 22, to closing on Sunday, October 24.
Friday, October 29, to Sunday, October 31
Red Line Platform Repairs -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to return it to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 8 p.m. Friday, October 29 to closing on Sunday, October 31.
Red Line Elevated Track Maintenance -- 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 conduct necessary maintenance on a portion of elevated tracks outside the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metrorail station. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 29, to closing on Sunday, October 31.
Orange Line Ground Stabilization – Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will make repairs to stabilize the ground outside the Cheverly Metrorail station that shifted because of work by a developer on adjacent property. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, October 29, to 3 a.m. on Sunday, October 31.
Green Line Rail Installation -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro to weld new rail on the tracks in that area to keep them in a state of good repair. to trim weeds along the tracks. Trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31.
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 2:09 pm, September 27, 2010.