Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 30, 2010
Metro sets December weekend track maintenance schedule
Work planned on the Red, Blue, Orange and Yellow lines aimed at maintaining state of good repair
In December, Metro will conduct major track work on all the Red, Blue, Orange and Yellow lines to help maintain the rail system in a state of good repair and help improve service reliability. All weekend projects will impact travel times.
Metro will not conduct any track maintenance work during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday weekends.
Friday, Dec. 3 to Sunday, Dec. 5
Orange Line Rail Installation -- Metrorail customers traveling between the New Carrollton and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time to allow Metro to install new cross ties and weld new rail on the tracks in that area to keep them in a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, to closing on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Red Line Track Maintenance – Metrorail customers traveling between the Friendship Heights and Van Ness-UDC Metrorail stations should add 20 minutes to their travel times while Metro replaces fasteners and repairs tunnel leaks. This work is necessary to maintain reliable service through that area of the track. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, to closing on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Metrorail customers traveling between the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations should also add at least 20 minutes to their travel time to allow personnel to make station improvements to maintain reliable service through that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, to closing on Sunday, Dec. 5.
This portion of vital work between the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood Metrorail stations is part of the Red Line rehabilitation project, which is extending the lifecycle of the track and related systems by rebuilding those areas.
Friday, Dec. 10, to Sunday, Dec. 12
Red Line Platform Repairs and Switch Installation -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Shady Grove and Twinbrook Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will install new rail cross ties and repair the deteriorated platform at the Rockville Metrorail station to bring it back to a state of good repair. Trains will share one track between these locations from 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Metrorail customers traveling between the Silver Spring and Wheaton Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time while Metro replaces track switches to improve rail system safety at the Forest Glen 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 from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Blue and Orange New Rail Installation – Metrorail customers traveling between the Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because Metro will weld new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12.
Blue and Yellow Line Single Tracking -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because of maintenance work related to the Wilson Bridge Project. Trains will share one track between these locations from 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 12.
Friday, Dec. 17 to Sunday, Dec. 19
Red Line Switch Installation -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Silver Spring and Wheaton Metrorail stations should add at least 20 minutes to their travel time while Metro replaces track switches to improve rail system safety at the Forest Glen 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 from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 19.
Blue and Yellow Line Single Tracking -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations should add at least 30 minutes to their travel time because of maintenance work related to the Wilson Bridge Project. Trains will share one track between these locations from 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 19.
Blue Line Communications Cable Installation -- Metrorail customers traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations should add 30 minutes to their travel time while personnel install communications cable in support of expanded cell phone coverage throughout the Metrorail system. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17 to closing on Sunday, Dec. 19.
Orange Line 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 weld new rail on the tracks in that area. Trains will share one track between these locations the entire weekend from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, and Sunday, Dec. 19.
During this time, 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.
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 issue news releases each Thursday as a reminder to provide updates about any last minute weekend track maintenance schedule changes.
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News release issued at 4:09 pm, November 30, 2010.