Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 18, 2016

Metro to begin track work at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday nights due to rail replacement

Metro is advising customers on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines of important track work beginning at 8 p.m. next week on Monday and Tuesday nights that will improve safety and reliability.

Metro is planning to replace nearly 400 feet of rail through a sharp curve in the area of Smithsonian Station. Due to the labor-intensive nature of the work, crews will need more time than is available during the overnight hours when the system is closed. As a result, Metro will begin the work at 8 p.m. for two consecutive evenings.

In addition to replacing rail, crews will use the time to replace more than 100 third-rail insulators and approximately 2,000 fasteners that hold the rails in place. Leak mitigation, drain cleaning and general debris clean up will also occur.

Customers on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines are advised:

• On Monday, Feb. 22, and Tuesday, Feb. 23, beginning at 8 p.m. each night, Metro will conduct track work between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW stations.
• Orange and Blue line trains will single track through this area, resulting in delays of approximately 15 minutes in each direction.
• After 8 p.m., Silver Line trains will run between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East stations only. Riders traveling to Silver Line stations in Virginia should take an Orange Line train to Ballston, and then transfer to a Silver Line train on the same platform.

Metro apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this work. Customers with questions or concerns are encouraged to call (202) 637-7000 to speak to a Metro representative.

News release issued at 1:51 pm, February 18, 2016.