Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 25, 2011

Track work planned for weekend of July 29-31
Service impacts on Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines

Metro's efforts to rebuild the rail system will continue this weekend on the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines. The work will begin around 10 p.m. Friday, July 29, and continue through closing on Sunday, July 31.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Red Line

• Red Line trains will share one track between Van Ness-UDC and Friendship Heights stations as Metro performs track upgrades.
• Red Line trains will share one track between Takoma and Forest Glen stations to allow for train control room replacement, cable installation, tie renewal and station upgrades.
• Red Line trains will depart endpoint terminals about every 30 minutes. On Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., additional Red Line trains will operate between Van Ness and Fort Totten, resulting in service about every 10 minutes between these stations.
• Red Line customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Orange Line

• Orange Line trains will share one track between Vienna and West Falls Church stations to allow for rail and tie renewal.
• Every other train from New Carrollton will turn back at West Falls Church station.

Blue Line

• Blue Line trains will share one track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations to allow for replacement of slabs beneath the rails to provide a smoother ride.
• Blue Line trains will share one track between Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street stations as crews perform necessary track work.
• Trains will operate every 24 minutes. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Yellow Line

• Yellow Line trains will share one track between Braddock Road and Huntington stations as crews perform necessary track work.
• Yellow Line trains will operate to/from Mt. Vernon Square, rather than Fort Totten.
• Trains will operate every 24 minutes. Customers should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time.

Major Track Work Planned for Weekend of August 6-7

Red Line customers should take note of major track work planned for the weekend of August 6-7. Buses will replace Red Line trains between Rockville and Bethesda stations, and four stations – Twinbrook, White Flint, Grosvenor and Medical Center – will be closed. In addition, on Sunday, August 7, Blue Line trains will operate to/from Huntington; Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed. Shuttle buses will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Eisenhower Avenue stations via Van Dorn Street Station.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit metroopensdoors.com.

Metro is advancing a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and maintaining the Metro system in a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects such as replacing escalators; retrofitting track; replacing track circuitry, signs and chain markers on the right of way; rehabilitating third rail, running rail and track pads; rehabilitating 12 Metrorail stations; purchasing 150 new police radios; the replacement of 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitation of 100 more; rehabilitating three bus garages; and installing 30 track turnouts. For more information, visit metroforward.com.

News release issued at 1:25 pm, July 25, 2011.