Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 8, 2010

Metro reminds customers of this weekend's last train departures on the Blue and Orange Lines

Columbus Day Weekend track work will close Farragut West, McPherson Square and the Blue and Orange Line level of the Metro Center stations – no trains to pass through area

This weekend, Metro will close the Farragut West and McPherson Square Metrorail stations and there will be no Blue or Orange Line service at the Metro Center Metrorail station from 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 8, to closing Monday, Oct. 11, while maintenance crews replace a track switch to improve rail system safety and conduct several additional projects in the area of the closed stations. There will be no Blue or Orange Line service through those stations.

The track switch replacement is work that was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board to improve rail safety. Customers using the Blue or Orange 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, Oct. 12.

Customers should avoid travelling in the area of the track work if possible.

During the Columbus Day Holiday weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station, which was an NTSB safety recommendation. Metro will also install 215 new track fasteners; replace old track, install new tunnel safety lights, test emergency call-box phones, replace blue emergency call box lights and repair water leaks in the tunnels.

Last Blue Line Trains Departing Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center on Oct. 8

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.

Prior to the weekend closure, on Friday, Oct. 8, the last Blue Line train in the direction of the Largo Town Center Metrorail station will depart Franconia-Springfield at 9:12 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:40 p.m., Foggy Bottom at 9:43 p.m., Farragut West at 9:45 p.m., McPherson Square at 9:46 p.m., Metro Center at 9:47 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:49 p.m., and arrive at the Largo Town Center Metrorail station at 10:16 p.m. The last Blue Line train in the direction of the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station will depart Largo Town Center at 9:22 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:50 p.m., Metro Center at 9:51 p.m., McPherson Square at 9:52 p.m., Farragut West at 9:53 p.m., Foggy Bottom at 9:55 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:58 p.m., and arrive at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 10:26 p.m.

Last Orange Line Trains Departing Vienna-Fairfax/GMU and New Carrollton on Oct. 8

Prior to the weekend closure, on Friday, Oct. 8, the last Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 9:28 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:50 p.m., Foggy Bottom at 9:53 p.m., Farragut West at 9:55 p.m., McPherson Square at 9:56 p.m., Metro Center at 9:57 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:59 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 10:25 p.m. The last Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will depart New Carrollton at 9:18 p.m., Federal Triangle at 9:45 p.m., Metro Center at 9:46 p.m., McPherson Square at 9:47 p.m., Farragut West at 9:48 p.m., Foggy Bottom at 9:50 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:53 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station at 10:15 p.m.

Last Blue Line Train Departures from Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center

In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Blue Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Blue Line train will depart the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at approximately 1:59 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night) and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night), and 10:59 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Blue Line train will depart the Largo Town Center Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 1:54 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night) and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night) and approximately 10:54 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11.

Last Orange Line Train Departures from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and New Carrollton

In order for Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle bound Orange Line trains to make their final connections for the last shuttle buses, the last Orange Line train will depart the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier than usual, leaving at approximately 1:55 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night) and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night), and 10:55 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11. The last Orange Line train will depart the New Carrollton Metrorail station 30 minutes earlier, leaving at approximately 2:06 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 (late Friday night) and Sunday, Oct. 10 (late Saturday night) and approximately 11:06 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 and Monday, Oct. 11.

To alert customers about this project, signs are posted in Metrorail stations, information is on the Metro Web site, paid advertisements have been purchased, e-alerts distributed and 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.

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News release issued at 11:21 am, October 8, 2010.