Metro News Release

For immediate release: November 26, 2012

Metro weekend track work November 30-December 2


Buses replace trains between Fort Totten and Forest Glen

The ongoing effort to rebuild and upgrade the Metrorail system to provide safer and more reliable service will continue over the weekend of November 30 through December 2 on the Red, Orange and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday.

There is no scheduled track work this weekend on the Blue or Yellow lines.

Red Line
Buses will replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Forest Glen to allow for platform reconstruction, signal testing, track maintenance and fiber-optic cable installation. Two stations -- Silver Spring and Takoma -- will be closed. Red Line trains will operate in two segments:

  • Between Shady Grove and Fort Totten every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and at regular weekend intervals at other times
  • Between Forest Glen and Glenmont every 20 minutes throughout the weekend

Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Changes to last train times:

  • On Friday and Saturday nights, the last Red Line train from Glenmont will depart at 2:05 a.m., 32 minutes earlier than normal, to allow for bus connections. The last train from Fort Totten to Shady Grove will depart at 2:50 a.m., stopping at Metro Center at 3:06 a.m. and arriving at Shady Grove at 3:40 a.m.
  • On Sunday night, the last Red Line train from Glenmont will depart at 11:05 p.m., 32 minutes earlier than normal. The last train from Fort Totten to Shady Grove will depart at 11:50 p.m., stopping at Metro Center at 12:06 a.m. and arriving at Shady Grove at 12:40 a.m.

Orange Line
Orange Line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly to allow for platform reconstruction, and between East Falls Church and West Falls Church for work associated with the Silver Line extension project. Throughout the weekend, trains will operate every 24 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton. Customers using Orange Line trains should allow 15 minutes of additional travel time. Blue Line service will operate at regular weekend intervals, providing more frequent service through the downtown core.

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 9:59 am, November 26, 2012.