Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 20, 2012

Metro track work for weekend of April 20-22, 2012


Buses replace trains on portions of the Red and Blue lines

Metro's efforts to rebuild the rail system will continue over the weekend of April 20-22. The work will begin at 10 p.m. tonight (Friday, April 20), and continue through system closing on Sunday, April 22.

Red Line

Buses will replace Red Line trains between Rhode Island Avenue and Silver Spring stations to allow for tie work, rail fastener replacement, grout work, rail and insulator renewal, and station platform reconstruction at Fort Totten and Takoma stations.  The following stations will be closed:

  • Takoma
  • Fort Totten (Red Line platform closed; open for Green/Yellow service)
  • Brookland

During daytime hours on Saturday and Sunday, Red Line trains will operate every 10 minutes between Shady Grove and Rhode Island Avenue, and between Glenmont and Silver Spring. At other times, trains will operate at regular weekend intervals.

Customers traveling to downtown DC from the eastern side of the Red Line may wish to consider Green Line service as an alternate travel option. Green Line service will operate normally this weekend. Alternatively, consider traveling from stations on the western side of the Red Line (e.g. Grosvenor, White Flint, Twinbrook), where service will operate normally.

Customers traveling through the work zone using shuttle buses should allow 25-30 minutes of additional travel time.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the last train from Glenmont to Silver Spring will depart Glenmont 40 minutes earlier than normal at 1:57 a.m., arriving at Silver Spring at 2:06 a.m. On Sunday night, the last train from Glenmont to Silver Spring will depart Glenmont 40 minutes earlier than normal at 10:57 p.m., arriving at Silver Spring at 11:06 p.m.

For additional information, including last-train times, please refer to the Red Line advisory.

Blue Line

Buses will replace Blue Line trains between Rosslyn and Pentagon stations to allow for replacement of wooden rail ties. Arlington Cemetery Station will be closed.

Blue Line trains will operate in two segments:

  • Between Rosslyn and Largo Town Center
  • Between Franconia-Springfield and Mt Vernon Square (via Yellow Line bridge)

Free shuttle buses will operate between Rosslyn and Pentagon stations. Shuttle buses to/from Arlington Cemetery will operate to/from Pentagon only.

Customers traveling through the work zone via buses should add about 15 minutes to their travel time.

Customers traveling between Virginia and DC should consider traveling on a Blue or Yellow line train over the Yellow Line bridge and connecting at L'Enfant Plaza.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the last train from Franconia-Springfield to Mt Vernon Square will depart 22 minutes earlier than normal at 2:07 a.m. and arrive at Mt Vernon Sqare at 2:40 a.m. On Sunday night, the last train from Franconia-Springfield to Mt Vernon Square will depart 22 minutes earlier than normal at 11:07 p.m. and arrive at Mt Vernon Sqare at 11:40 p.m.

For additional information, including last-train times, please refer to the Blue Line advisory.

Orange Line

Orange Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with the Silver Line extension.

No significant delays are expected from this short stretch of single tracking, and Orange Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Customers may notice slight adjustments to train arrival times as Orange Line schedules are coordinated with the Blue Line, where more extensive track work is taking place.

Customers are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts to receive email notification of upcoming track work. Visit wmata.com/metroalerts.

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 9:44 am, April 20, 2012.