Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 27, 2013

Metro rebuilding work May 31-June 2


Buses replace Red Line trains between Woodley Park & Metro Center; trains on other lines every 22 minutes

Metro's multi-year rebuilding effort will continue over the weekend of May 31 through June 2 on all five rail lines. To allow for the work to proceed as safely and efficiently as possible, service adjustments will begin at 10 p.m. Friday night and continue through system closing on Sunday.

Metro is investing $5.5 billion to install new rail, ties, platforms, escalators, signals, lighting, communication systems, and more. It represents the largest capital investment -- and work effort -- since the system's original construction in the early 1970s.

Red Line - 10 p.m. Fri., May 31 through closing Sun., June 2

Free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Woodley Park and Metro Center to allow for improvements to third-rail infrastructure, elimination of rail joints, track fasteners replacement, communications upgrades and fiber-optic cable installation.  

Two stations will be closed: Dupont Circle and Farragut North.

Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate in two segments:

  • Between Shady Grove and Woodley Park every 10 minutes during daytime hours and every 15-20 minutes at other times.
  • Between Metro Center and Glenmont every 15 minutes during daytime hours and every 15-20 minutes at other times.

Express buses will operate between Woodley Park and Metro Center without intermediate stops; passengers using express buses should add 20 minutes to their travel time. Local buses will operate between Woodley Park and Metro Center, making intermediate stops at Dupont Circle and Farragut North; passengers using local buses should add 25 minutes to their travel time.

To allow for connections to other lines, the last train of the night from Shady Grove to Woodley Park will depart 37 minutes earlier than normal -- at 1:53 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and at 10:53 p.m. on Sunday.

Orange, Blue, Yellow & Green lines - 10 p.m. Fri., May 31 through closing Sun., June 2

Trains on all other lines (Orange, Blue, Yellow and Green) will operate every 22 minutes throughout the weekend to allow for rebuilding work in five separate work zones:

  • On the Blue Line between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road, workers will rehabilitate concrete structures below the rails and upgrade rail communication systems.
  • On the Yellow and Blue lines between Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street, workers will install new rail ties and third-rail insulators, eliminate rail joints and perform ballast tamping (reconditioning of the crushed stone beneath the rails).
  • On the Orange Line between Stadium-Armory and Cheverly, crews will continue major platform reconstruction efforts at Deanwood and Minnesota Avenue stations, as well as track and third-rail renewal.
  • On the Green Line between Anacostia and Southern Avenue, workers will clean and repair third-rail insulators, repair leaks and clear drains.
  • On the Green Line between Greenbelt and College Park, work will continue on a new test track for acceptance of 7000-series railcars.

Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt Vernon Sq throughout the entire weekend.

Metro passengers will experience the longer wait time on the platform; once a train departs a station, it is not expected to encounter further delays en route. Riders can reduce their wait by using Metro's trip planner prior to traveling. Special schedules that reflect this weekend's work will be loaded into the trip planner by midday Friday.

To see alternate routes using Metrobus, use Metro's online trip planner and select "bus only."

For schedules, real-time train arrivals and station information, visit wmata.com. Metro riders can access Metro's new mobile website by entering wmata.com into their smartphone browser. For assistance by phone, call Metro customer information at (202) 637-7000 [TTY 202-638-3780].

 

News release issued at 8:54 am, May 28, 2013.