Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 12, 2010

Metro successfully completes Columbus Day Holiday weekend track work

All Metrorail stations reopened on-time Tuesday morning

The track overhaul on the Blue and Orange Line that closed the Farragut West, McPherson Square and the lower level of the Metro Center Metrorail station during the Columbus Day weekend was completed successfully and all stations reopened on time -- at 5 a.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 12.

This past weekend, Metro replaced four track switches, which comprised the entire rail interlocking at the McPherson Square Metrorail station, which was an NTSB recommendation to improve rail system safety. Metro also installed new track fasteners, new track, new tunnel safety lights, tested emergency call-box phones, replaced blue emergency call box lights and repaired water leaks in the tunnels.

The free shuttle buses were busy throughout the holiday weekend. Approximately 102,771 customers used the shuttle buses to help complete their trips during the entire holiday weekend of work.

As a reminder, during the weekend of Nov. 5 to 7, there will be no service on the Orange Line between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations or the Blue Line between the Stadium-Armory and Benning Road Metrorail stations as Metro repairs the rail bridge outside the Cheverly Metrorail station and makes track circuit upgrades outside the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station.

Additional details on the Nov. 5 to 7 weekend project will be available next week.
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News release issued at 10:12 am, October 12, 2010.