Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 29, 2012

Metro completes key NTSB safety recommendation

Final mainline ‘Guarded #8’ switch installed

Metro safely completed a key National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation—the Guarded #8 project—late last night (Monday, May 28) with the installation of the 178th mainline guarded rail switch on the Metrorail system. The new switch was installed outside Prince George's Plaza station on the Green Line.

“Guarded 8s” are guarded rails that permit trains to move between tracks more safely, thereby decreasing the risk of derailment.

“The aggressive program to complete the installation of the Guarded 8 switches throughout the rail system demonstrates Metro’s goal of making safety a top priority while moving Metro Forward through our rebuilding efforts,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles.

The $57 million project cost was funded by the federal government and Metro’s local jurisdictions.

“I want to recognize our Metro Congressional delegation, including Senators Mikulski, Cardin, Warner and Webb, Representatives Hoyer, Wolf, Moran, Connolly, Van Hollen, Edwards and Holmes-Norton. This milestone would not be possible without their unwavering support in assuring that we had the funding needed to get this work done,” Sarles said.

The NTSB recommended the installation of Guarded 8s in 2007. Between 2008 and 2012, Metro installed 108 of the recommended 178 switches, including 64 over the past two years.

Installing new switches necessitates replacing trains with shuttle buses, usually over a three-day weekend. The complex work required a comprehensive and coordinated effort throughout the entire Metro organization, including hundreds of workers from Metro’s rail, infrastructure and engineering, safety and bus departments who worked to complete the project safely while minimizing customer impact.

News release issued at 9:33 am, May 29, 2012.