Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 3, 2011

Major Track Work Planned for the Weekend of October 7-10


Buses replace trains on portions of the Green, Yellow and Orange lines

Metro will advance major track work on sections of the Green, Yellow and Orange lines over the three-day Columbus Day weekend.

To advance NTSB-recommended safety improvements, three stations on the Green/Yellow lines -- Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights -- will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday through system opening Tuesday.  Shuttle buses will operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Georgia Avenue stations, making stops outside each of the closed Metrorail stations.  During this time, Metro personnel will install new "Guarded #8" switches outside U Street Station.

On the Orange Line, buses will replace trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church as work continues on the Dulles rail extension project.

Customers traveling to the Army 10-Miler:  The Metrorail system will open one hour early (at 6 a.m.) on Sunday, October 9.  Shuttle bus service will also begin at 6 a.m.  Customers on the Orange Line may wish to travel from East Falls Church or stations east to avoid additional travel time associated with shuttle bus operations. [more info]

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Green and Yellow Lines – 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Monday (Columbus Day)

  • From 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, through closing on Monday, October 10, the Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights stations will be closed as Metro installs new track switches outside U Street station, which is part of a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation.
  • Green Line trains will operate in two sections, between Greenbelt and Georgia Avenue and between Branch Avenue and Mt. Vernon Square.
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Georgia Avenue.
  • Customers on the northern end of the Green Line may wish to travel via the Red Line between Fort Totten and downtown to avoid the work zone.  Red Line service will operate normally throughout the weekend.
  • The last train will depart Greenbelt 30 minutes earlier than usual—at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11 p.m. on Sunday and Monday nights.
  • Customers using shuttle buses should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square.
  • Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, October 11.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday through closing Monday (Columbus Day)

  • From 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, through closing on Monday, October 10, buses will replace trains between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations to allow for construction associated with the Dulles rail extension.
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.
  • East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations will remain open for transfers between trains and buses.
  • The last train will depart Vienna 17 minutes earlier than usual—at 2:08 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:08 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.
  • Between Vienna and West Falls Church stations, trains will operate every 20 minutes and share one track while personnel replace cross ties and insulators.
  • Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.
    Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, October 11.


Weekday Service Information
During the week of October 3-7, trains will single track on the Red, Orange, Blue, Green and Yellow lines to allow for minor track work projects. 

Red Line – 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

  • Red Line single tracking between New York Ave. and Rhode Island Ave (rail and tie renewal).
  • Every other Red Line train traveling in the direction of Silver Spring will terminate at New York Ave. and return to Shady Grove.

Red Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Red Line single tracking between Friendship Heights and Grosvenor (rail renewal and tunnel leak repairs).
  • Red Line single tracking between Takoma and Forest Glen (cable installation and station upgrades).
  • No delays expected.

Orange Line – 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday

  • Orange Line single tracking between Vienna and West Falls Church (rail and tie renewal).
  • No delays expected.

Blue Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Blue Line single tracking between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road (floating slab repairs).
  • No delays expected.

Green and Yellow Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

  • Green Line single tracking between Mt. Vernon Square and Georgia Ave. (prep work for switch replacement).
  • No delays expected.

Metro is advancing a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.

News release issued at 9:40 am, October 3, 2011.