Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 31, 2011

Major track work planned for weekend of November 4-6


Buses replace trains on the Red Line between Glenmont and Fort Totten

Metro will advance major track work this weekend on the Red, Blue and Orange lines.

Buses will replace Red Line trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten, and five stations -- Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont -- will be closed as Metro rebuilds track, installs ties and insulators, replaces communications cables and renovates station platforms. In addition, trains will single track on the Blue/Orange lines between Foggy Bottom and McPherson Square to allow for rail renewal work.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Red Line – 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Sunday

  • Buses will replace Red Line trains between Glenmont and Fort Totten stations.
  • Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will be closed.
  • Free shuttle buses will operate between Glenmont, Wheaton, Forest Glen, Silver Spring, Takoma and Fort Totten.
  • Red Line service will operate normally between Fort Totten and Shady Grove.
  • The last Shady Grove-bound train will depart Fort Totten at 2:51 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 11:51 p.m. on Sunday.
  • Customers using shuttle buses should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange and Blue Line – 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Sunday

  • Orange and Blue Line trains will share one track between McPherson Square and Foggy Bottom stations as personnel conduct rail renewal work.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange and Blue Line trains will depart endpoint terminals every 15 minutes.
  • Customers should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Weekday Service Information

During the week of October 31 to November 4, trains will share one track on the Red, Blue and Green Lines. Customers should note the following minor service impacts:

 

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

  • Red Line single tracking between Shady Grove and Twinbrook (rail and tie renewal).
  • No delays expected.

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 New York Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue (District of Columbia Department Transportation bridge work)
  • No delays expected.

Blue and Yellow Lines – 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday (except Tuesday, Nov. 1)

  • Blue and Yellow Line trains will single track between Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. stations. Customers traveling between Mt. Vernon Sq. and Fort Totten should use Green Line trains during this time.
  • Blue Line trains will operate every 18 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center.
  • Customers on the Blue or Yellow lines should add about 15 minutes of travel time.
  • Due to a special event at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 1, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate on a regular schedule with no track work.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Tuesday

  • Orange Line single tracking between Cheverly and New Carrollton (rail renewal).
  • No delays expected.

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

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

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

  • Green Line single tracking between L’Enfant Plaza and Southern Avenue (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.

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News release issued at 10:49 am, October 31, 2011.