Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 21, 2012

Metro weekend track work August 24-26, 2012

Buses replace Orange Line trains between Vienna and East Falls Church; Red Line single tracking in two work zones; normal service on Blue, Green, Yellow

Work to rebuild the Metrorail system will continue over the weekend of August 24-26 with scheduled track work on the Orange and Red lines only. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

There is no scheduled work on the Blue, Green or Yellow lines this weekend; trains on these lines will operate on a regular weekend schedule.

Red Line

Red Line trains will single track through two work zones: between Grosvenor and Medical Center to allow for upgrades to rail fasteners and third-rail insulators, and between Takoma and Forest Glen for platform reconstruction.  Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Grosvenor every 24 minutes in each direction. On Saturday and Sunday, between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., additional trains will operate between Medical Center and NoMa-Gallaudet U stations, providing service an average of every 12 minutes between these stations.  Red Line customers traveling through either work zone should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.  View Advisory

Orange Line

Buses will replace Orange Line trains between Vienna and East Falls Church to allow for work associated with the Silver Line rail extension.  Three stations -- Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church -- will be closed. Express shuttle buses will operate between Vienna and East Falls Church only; customers using express buses should add 15 minutes to their travel time. Local shuttle buses will operate between Vienna and East Falls Church, with intermediate stops at Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations; customers using local buses should add 40 minutes to their travel time. View Advisory

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 Metro buses 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 12:03 pm, August 21, 2012.