Metrorail’s New Heavy Repair and Overhaul Facility

Metrorail

Overview

While Metro has 10 railcar service and distribution facilities that help keep the agency’s over 1,200 railcars safe and reliable, there is no location dedicated exclusively to heavy repair and overhaul functions. Currently, Metro’s heavy repair and overhaul work takes place alongside regular service and repair work at two separate facilities. 

The new Metrorail Heavy Repair and Overhaul (HRO) Facility will be outfitted with bays for 20 rail cars, a rail car truck shop and storage tracks. The facility will provide Metro with one site where all major overhaul work can take place, improving work efficiencies and modernizing Metro’s major railcar overhaul processes. The facility will be located at 3636 Pennsy Drive in Landover, Maryland, with a connection to the Orange Line. Site construction is expected to begin in 2023 and to open in early 2025.

Improved Efficiency and Reliability

Metro is implementing a Scheduled Maintenance Program (SMP), which focuses on delivering scheduled maintenance for each railcar  subsystem. The SMP reduces major predicted failures, increase car availability and decreases delays caused by railcar maintenance.  

Metro’s sustainability commitment will continue with this project, with a goal of achieving LEED certification through the integration of green features that conserve energy, improve stormwater management and optimize indoor environmental quality.

Taking A More Modern Approach to Repairs and Maintenance  

When it opens, the HRO Facility will feature multiple innovative work areas designed to provide the space and technology required to efficiently complete heavy repairs, such as:

  • A workshop on the mezzanine level where roof-mounted HVAC equipment can be lifted straight from railcars onto the mezzanine for maintenance and repair
  • A truck shop where tracks are removed from railcars and then disassembled so that parts (e.g. truck frame, wheels, axels and gearboxes) can be repaired or replaced
  • The north side of the building will have 20 maintenance bays, where railcar bodies will be brought in by crane for disassembly, repair and rebuild. This work could involve the removal of all equipment cases, doors, control equipment, seats, windows, floors, etc.

Timeline

2020 – 2021

Pre-construction phase - Design development

2022 

Final design and preparation work

2023 – 2024

Site construction and commissioning 

Early 2025

Facility opens

Resources