Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 25, 2013

Metro weekend system rebuilding work March 1-3


Buses replace trains on portions of Red, Blue and Yellow lines; single tracking on Orange Line

The ongoing effort to rebuild and upgrade the Metrorail system to provide safer and more reliable service will continue over the weekend of March 1-3, 2013, on the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow 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 Green Line.

Red Line

  • Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between NoMa-Gallaudet and Takoma for ongoing platform reconstruction, communication system improvements, rail renewal and DDOT bridge work.
  • Three stations will be closed: Rhode Island Ave, Brookland and Fort Totten.
  • Red Line trains will operate in two segments: between Glenmont and Takoma, and between NoMa-Gallaudet and Shady Grove.
  • Trains will operate every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and every 15 minutes at other times.
  • Shuttle bus service will operate between NoMa-Gallaudet and Takoma stations.  Customers using shuttle bus service should add up to 40 minutes to their travel time.  Customers can use Green Line trains between Fort Totten and Gallery Place to avoid the work zone.
  • Note: To allow for bus connections, the last train of the night from Glenmont to Takoma will depart 38 minutes earlier than normal -- at 1:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 10:59 p.m. on Sunday night.

Blue Line

  • Free shuttle buses will replace Blue Line trains between Crystal City and Braddock Road for NTSB-recommended track circuit module replacement, rail joint elimination, tie renewal and other track improvements.
  • Reagan National Airport Station will be closed.
  • Blue Line trains will operate in two segments: between Crystal City and Largo Town Center, and between Braddock Road and Franconia-Springfield every 16 minutes from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and every 20 minutes from 9 p.m. until system closing.
  • Shuttle bus service between Crystal City and Braddock Road will operate on two routes: Express buses will operate between Crystal City and Braddock Road only; customers should add 15 minutes of additional travel time. Local buses will operate between Crystal City and Braddock Road serving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; customers traveling to or from Reagan National Airport should allow about 15 minutes of extra travel time.
  • Note: To allow for bus connections, the last train of the night from Franconia-Springfield to Braddock Road will depart 20 minutes earlier than normal -- at 2:09 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 11:09 p.m. on Sunday night.

Yellow Line

  • Free shuttle buses will replace Yellow Line trains between Crystal City and Braddock Road for NTSB-recommended track circuit module replacement, rail joint elimination, tie renewal and other track improvements.
  • Reagan National Airport Station will be closed.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate in two segments: between Crystal City and Mt Vernon Sq, and between Braddock Road and Huntington every 16 minutes from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. and every 20 minutes from 9 p.m. until system closing.
  • Shuttle bus service between Crystal City and Braddock Road will operate on two routes: Express buses will operate between Crystal City and Braddock Road only; customers should add 15 minutes of additional travel time. Local buses will operate between Crystal City and Braddock Road serving Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; customers traveling to or from Reagan National Airport should allow about 15 minutes of extra travel time.
  • Note: To allow for bus connections, the last train of the night from Huntington to Braddock Road will depart 20 minutes earlier than normal -- at 2:14 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 11:14 p.m. on Sunday night.

Orange Line

  • Orange Line trains will single track through two work zones: between East Falls Church and West Falls Church for Silver Line testing, and between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly to allow for platform reconstruction, tie and insulator renewal, and track maintenance.
  • Orange Line trains will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend.
  • Customers traveling on the Orange Line should allow about 15 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 10:30 am, February 25, 2013.