In the largest maintenance shutdown in Metro's 34-year history, Metro has closed five stations on the Red Line so more than 500 maintenance workers can make upgrades and safety improvements.
The Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations will remain closed until 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. Normal service will resume at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Metro is running free shuttle bus service between the Fort Totten and Glenmont stations, but riders should build an extra 40 minutes into their trip if they are traveling through the affected area.
Metro said workers are replacing two old track switches at the Silver Spring Metrorail station, installing 750 new track fasteners, 1,720 new crossties, 525 feet of new track, 500 new rail insulators, new heater tape, new tunnel safety lights and installing communications cables in support for upgraded cell phone access.
The track switch replacement is work recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. The cell phone service project is a Congressional mandate to improve cell phone access at Metrorail stations.
During the holiday weekend, all Red Line trains are operating between the Shady Grove and Fort Totten Metrorail stations. The Fort Totten station is open.
Want to avoid the closure? Try Metrobus. Riders can use the following Metrobus lines during the Labor Day weekend:
- C8 (College Park-White Flint) line, which serves the Glenmont Metrorail station.
- J2 (Bethesda-Silver Spring) line, which serves the Silver Spring, Bethesda and Medical Center Metrorail stations.
- Q1, 2, 4, 6 (Veirs Mill Road) line, which serves the Shady Grove, Rockville, Wheaton, Forest Glen and Silver Spring Metrorail stations.
