Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 6, 2010
Weekend renovation to improve reliability, service on the Blue, Orange, Red and Yellow lines
Station closures to allow upgrades to improve safety, efficiency, performance
This Columbus Day Holiday weekend (October 8-11) Metro will install a new track switch, repair and upgrade its platforms and conduct make landscaping repairs on the Blue, Orange, Red and Yellow lines to improve long-term reliability and service. The track switch on the Blue and Orange Line that will close the Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level of the Metro Center Metrorail station is work that was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to improve rail safety. There will be no train service through those stations on the Blue or Orange Lines. As a result of this work, which is critical to maintain the railroad in a state of good repair, riders can expect delays of up to 40 minutes and if possible, should try to avoid passing through the work zone on the Blue and Orange lines.
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 the Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations and the closure of the Orange and Blue Lines at Metro Center throughout the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, (Oct. 8-11). The Red Line through Metro Center will not be affected. The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to improve the safety of the rail system. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 5 a.m.
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, install 215 new track fasteners, replace old track, install new tunnel safety lights, and repair water leaks in the tunnels.
The Blue and Orange Lines will each be split in two sections throughout the 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.
On Oct. 9, 10 and 11, from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every other Blue Line train departing the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will instead operate over the Yellow Line Bridge to the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station and terminate at the Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station to get people between Washington, DC and Virginia in a way to avoid the station closures. After 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, 9, 10 and 11, all Blue Line trains departing the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will terminate at the Foggy Bottom Metrorail station.
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. If possible, people should avoid passing through the work zone.
Metro scheduled this important safety improvement during the course of the holiday weekend because Monday, Oct. 11 is the Federal Columbus Day holiday when rail system usage is significantly lower than usual because government offices are closed. More than 40 percent of rush hour riders are federal employees.
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 Repairs
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.
Be one of the first to find out when Metrorail is experiencing a service disruption by signing up to receive an e-alert. You can personalize Metro e-alerts by signing up to monitor service on specific lines on specific days of the week and on specific times of the day. You can always unsubscribe or change your e-alert preferences. To sign up, visit http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/ealerts/.
###
News release issued at 12:13 pm, October 6, 2010.