Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 29, 2011

Major Track Work Planned for Weekend of September 2-5
Buses replace trains on portions of Orange and Blue lines

Metro will advance major track work on sections of the Orange and Blue lines over the three-day Labor Day weekend.  Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church as work continues on the Dulles rail extension project.  In addition, Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed as Metro installs new track switches on the Blue Line near Van Dorn Street.  Shuttle buses will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Eisenhower Avenue stations via Van Dorn Street Station.

Orange Line – 8 p.m. Friday through closing Monday (Labor Day)

• From 8 p.m., Friday, September 2, through closing on Monday, September 5, buses will replace trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations to allow for construction that will eventually connect the Dulles extension to the existing Metrorail system.
• East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations will remain open.
• Free shuttle buses will operate between East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.
• The last train will depart Vienna 20 minutes earlier than usual—at 2:08 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:08 p.m. on Sunday.
• Between Vienna and West Falls Church stations, trains will operate every 24 minutes and share one track while personnel replace cross ties and insulators.
• Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.
• Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, September 6

Blue Line – 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Monday (Labor Day)

• From 10 p.m., Friday, September 2, through closing on Monday, September 5, Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations will be closed as Metro installs new track switches between Van Dorn Street and King Street stations, which is part of a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation.
• All Blue Line trains will operate to/from Huntington station, with service about every 20 minutes.
• Free shuttle buses will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Eisenhower Avenue stations via Van Dorn Street station.
• Customers using shuttle buses should allow 30 minutes of additional travel time.
• Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, September 6

Weekday Service Information

During the week of August 29-September 1, trains will share one track on portions of the Red and Blue lines. Customers should note the following minor service impacts:

Red Line – From 9:30 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

• Red Line single tracking between Friendship Heights and Grosvenor (rail renewal and tunnel leak repairs)
• Red Line single tracking between Fort Totten and Silver Spring (emergency phone repairs)

Blue Line – From 10 p.m. through closing Monday through Thursday

• Blue Line single tracking between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant (floating slab repairs)
• Blue Line single tracking between Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street (rail renewal)

Metro is advancing 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, the CIP 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 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

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 wmata.com.

 

News release issued at 1:50 pm, August 29, 2011.