Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 15, 2012
Metro weekend track work October 19-21, 2012
Buses replace trains between Grosvenor and Friendship Heights
The ongoing effort to rebuild and upgrade the Metrorail system to provide safer and more reliable service will continue over the weekend of October 19-21, 2012, on the Red, Orange and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.
Red Line
Buses will replace Red Line trains between Grosvenor and Friendship Heights to allow for rail renewal, fastener replacement, grout pad rehabilitation and leak mitigation. As a result, trains will operate in two segments: between Shady Grove and Grosvenor, and between Friendship Heights and Glenmont. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Red Line trains will operate every 10 minutes. At other times, trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time. (Note: On Friday and Saturday nights, the last Red Line train from Shady Grove to Grosvenor will depart at 1:58 a.m., 32 minutes earlier than normal, to allow for shuttle bus connections. On Sunday night, the last train will depart Shady Grove at 10:58 p.m.)
Orange Line
Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with the Silver Line extension project. As a result, trains will operate in two segments: between Vienna and West Falls Church, and between East Falls Church and New Carrollton. Trains will operate at regular weekend service intervals. Customers using shuttle bus service should allow about 20 miinutes of additional travel time. (Note: On Friday and Saturday nights, the last Orange Line train from Vienna will depart at 2:05 a.m., 20 minutes earlier than normal, to allow for shuttle bus connections. On Sunday night, the last train will depart Vienna at 11:05 a.m.)
Green Line
Green Line trains will single track between Greenbelt and College Park to allow for construction associated with a new track to test 7000-series railcars. Every other train will originate/terminate at College Park, rather than Greenbelt. Green Line trains will operate normally, at regular weekend intervals, between College Park and Branch Avenue. Customers traveling to or from Greenbelt Station only should allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time.
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.
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 8:56 am, October 15, 2012.