Community Corner

Construction of rail to Dulles to halt service between East Falls Church and West Falls Church this weekend

Additional rail improvements scheduled for the Red, Blue and Yellow Lines; customers should visit metroopensdoors.com for service details

Metro issued this release about weekend service:

"There will be no train service between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations this weekend (March 18 to 20) to allow the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project to continue major construction activities that will eventually connect the new rail line to the existing Metrorail system. 

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing (midnight) on Sunday, March 20, the Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first running from Vienna/Fairfax-GMU to West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and the second between the New Carrollton and East Falls Church Metrorail stations. The East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations will remain open. 

To help riders get through the work zone, Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations. Customers should add an extra 30 minutes into their travel plans if they need to pass through the work zone. 

To inform customers about the track work, signs and banners were posted at key locations; advertisements were placed; messages were posted on platform display signs; and a brochure was produced in English and Spanish. Throughout the weekend, customers will hear system-wide rail station and train operator announcements and will receive e-mail and Twitter alerts. 

Extra Metro employees will be available at the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations to help customers navigate around the weekend closure using the free shuttle bus service. 

This weekend, the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project contractors will cut-over support systems which are necessary to connect the new rail line to the Orange Line. Metro personnel will also be working between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations installing new rail, new ties and new insulators to make it a smoother ride for Orange Line customers. 

Orange Line Weekend Service 

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing on Sunday, March 20, the Orange Line will be split in two sections, the first operating between the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations, and the second between the East Falls Church and New Carrollton Metrorail stations. 

Orange Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes between the Vienna-Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail stations and between the New Carrollton and East Falls Church Metrorail stations. 

Friday Night Last Through Orange Line Trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church-VT/UVA 

Prior to the weekend closure on Friday, March 18, the last Orange Line train in the direction of the New Carrollton Metrorail station will depart Vienna-Fairfax/GMU at 9:41 p.m., West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 9:48 p.m., East Falls Church at 9:51 p.m., Rosslyn at 10:03 p.m., Metro Center and 10:10 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 10:15 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 10:24 p.m., and arrive at the New Carrollton Metrorail station at 10:38 p.m. The last Orange Line train in the direction of the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station will depart New Carrollton at 9:06 p.m., Stadium-Armory at 9:20 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:29 p.m., Metro Center at 9:34 p.m., Rosslyn at 9:41 p.m., East Falls Church at 9:52 p.m., West Falls Church-VT/UVA at 9:55 p.m., and arrive at the Vienna-Fairfax/GMU Metrorail station at 10:03 p.m. 

Last Inbound Orange Line trains departing Vienna/Fairfax-GMU 20 Minutes Early 

On March 18, 19 and 20, the last Orange Line train departing the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station for the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station will leave approximately 20 minutes earlier than usual. This will allow for customers to connect to the free shuttle buses and to the last trains departing the East Falls Church Metrorail station to the New Carrollton Metrorail station. 

On March 18 and 19, the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 2:05 a.m., and arrive at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station at 2:12 a.m. The last inbound train will depart the East Falls Church Metrorail station at 2:35 a.m. 

On March 20, the last Orange Line train will depart Vienna/Fairfax-GMU at 11:05 p.m., and arrive at the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station at 11:12 p.m. The last inbound train will depart the East Falls Church Metrorail station at 11:35 p.m. 

March 18-20 Weekend Shuttle Bus Service 

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing on Sunday, March 20, Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between the East Falls Church (bus bays C &D) and West Falls Church-VT/UVA (bus loop outside the Kiss & Ride south entrance of station) Metrorail stations. The weekend’s free shuttle buses will operate to meet each train. 

March 18-20 Weekend Red Line Service 

From 10 p.m., March 18 to closing on Sunday, March 20, Red Line, trains will share one track between the Forest Glen and Glenmont Metrorail stations as personnel replace rail switches outside the Wheaton Metrorail station. This work is to comply with a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. Red Line trains will also share one track between the Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the White Flint Metrorail station platform. 

On March 19 and 20, Red Line trains will depart approximately every 26 minutes from the Shady Grove and Glenmont Metrorail stations. From 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., more frequent service will be offered on the Red Line and will operate approximately every 13 minutes between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring Metrorail stations. 

March 18-20 Blue and Yellow Line Service 

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing on Sunday, March 20, Blue Line trains will share one track between the Stadium-Armory and Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metrorail stations as personnel make repairs to the floating slabs underneath the rails in that area to make it for a smoother ride. 

From 10 p.m., Friday, March 18 to closing on Sunday, March 20, Yellow Line trains will share one track between the Pentagon City and L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations and Blue Line trains will share one track between the Pentagon City and Arlington Cemetery Metrorail stations as personnel install communication cables to ultimately improve cell phone coverage and weld new rail in that area. 

On March 19 and 20, all Blue and Yellow Line trains will operate approximately every 20 minutes. Additionally, during the weekend, all Yellow Line trains will operate between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station. 

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

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News release issued at 4:35 pm, March 17, 2011."

Find out what's happening in Arlingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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