Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 23, 2012

Metro weekend track work May 25-28, 2012

Buses replace trains between Ft. Totten and Greenbelt; Single tracking on portions of Red Line as rebuilding continues

The massive effort to rebuild Metrorail will continue over the holiday weekend of May 25-28 on the Red and Green lines.  The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Monday (Memorial Day).

Green Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, May 25, and continuing through system closing on Monday, May 28, buses will replace Green Line trains between Greenbelt and Fort Totten to allow for installation of new "Guarded #8" switches, fulfilling an NTSB recommendation. Customers using shuttle bus service should allow extra travel time. Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only. Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip; Green Line trains will operate normally between Fort Totten and Branch Avenue. View Advisory

Red Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, May 25, and continuing through system closing on Monday, May 28, trains will single track between Forest Glen and Takoma to allow for platform reconstruction and fiber optic cable installation. Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Glenmont and Shady Grove throughout the weekend. Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and New York Avenue stations, providing service every 10 minutes. View Advisory

There is no work scheduled this weekend on the Blue, Orange or Yellow lines, except for the minor service adjustment to the Yellow Line noted above.

Metro is advancing Metro Forward, 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, Metro Forward 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. Customers are encouraged to sign up for MetroAlerts (wmata.com/metroalerts) to receive service information via email or text message.

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 12:15 pm, May 23, 2012.