Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 12, 2011

Metro announces final weekend of track work for 2011


No scheduled work over Christmas, New Year's holiday weekends

Metro will perform 2011's final weekend of track work over the weekend of December 16-18, with trains sharing the same track along portions of the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines. There will be no scheduled track work during the Christmas or New Year's holiday weekends.

This weekend's work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line
The most significant work of the weekend will take place on the Red Line, where crews will advance efforts to stabilize a water main that runs through the mezzanine level of Farragut North Station. The heavy construction work requires that one Red Line track be taken out of service between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square for the safety of workers and customers.

  • Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes through the work zone, with service between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
  • Additional Red Line service will operate on Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., with trains departing every 10 minutes from Shady Grove and Glenmont. However, every other train from Shady Grove station will turn back at Dupont Circle; every other train from Glenmont will turn back at Union Station.
  • The last train departing Glenmont station will leave 11 minutes earlier than usual -- at 2:26 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday.  
  • Customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time and expect crowding conditions. 

Orange Line

  • Orange Line trains will share one track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for fiber optic cable installation.
  • Orange Line trains will depart every 20 minutes from Vienna and New Carrollton.
  • Stations served by Orange and Blue line trains will have service every 10 minutes.

Blue Line

  • Blue Line trains will share one track in two sections: between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road for repairs to floating slabs underneath the rails, and between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road for rail and tie renewal.
  • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will depart every 20 minutes from Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center.
  • Stations served by Orange and Blue line trains will have service every 10 minutes.

Green/Yellow Lines

  • Yellow Line trains will share one track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road for rail and tie renewal.
  • Throughout the weekend, Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. only; customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt .Vernon Sq. should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.
  • Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend service levels, with minor schedule adjustments due to single tracking between College Park and Greenbelt for track inspection. Every other train will turn back at College Park station during daytime hours.

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WEEKDAY SERVICE INFORMATION

Red Line

  • Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day - Single tracking between Rhode Island Avenue and Fort Totten for rail and tie renewal. Expect minor delays.
  • Monday through Thursday starting at 8 p.m. each night - Single tracking between Van Ness and Medical Center to allow for track circuit replacement. Expect minor delays.
  • Monday through Thursday starting at 10 p.m. each night - Single tracking between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. No delays expected.

Orange Line

  • Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Single tracking between Cheverly and New Carrollton for rail and tie renewal. No delays expected.
  • Monday through Thursday starting at 10 p.m. each night - Single tracking between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for cable installation. No delays expected.

Blue Line

  • Monday through Thursday starting at 10 p.m. each night - Single tracking between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road to allow for repairs to floating slabs beneath the rails for a smoother ride. No delays expected.

Green Line

  • Monday through Thursday starting at 11 p.m. each night - Single tracking between U Street and Georgia Ave-Petworth to allow for rail maintenance. 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 10:40 am, December 12, 2011.