Photo by Barbara Krawcowicz

Photo by Barbara Krawcowicz

Most years, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority holds off on impeding Metrorail with track work the opening weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. But the cherry blossoms got here early. Likewise, any tourists arriving with the premature bloom will have to endure a weekend stuffed with repairs and upgrades to all five lines.

“Unfortunately, because a lot of this track work is planned so far in advance, it involves contractors and supplies and materials. It is really difficult to pull back once you have committed to it,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel told WTOP yesterday.

Metro is offering an extra hour of service on Saturday, though it’s early morning to accomodate runners heading out to the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Marathon.

So, how rough is it going to get? The Blue and Orange lines are running at 20-minute intervals beginning 10 p.m. tonight through closing on Sunday evening, Green and Yellow Line trains are going every 16 minutes, with Yellow Line trains terminating at Mt. Vernon Square and on the Red Line, the Shady Grove station will be closed with shuttle buses to Rockville.

Here’s the full blow-by-blow:

Red Line

  • Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday, free shuttle buses will replace Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Rockville to allow for NTSB-recommended track circuit module replacement.
  • As a result, Shady Grove Station will be closed.
  • Red Line trains will operate between Rockville and Glenmont every 10 minutes between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and at regular weekend intervals at other times.
  • Customers using shuttle bus service should allow 15 minutes of additional travel time.
  • The last Glenmont-bound train will depart Rockville at 2:33 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:33 p.m. on Sunday night.

Orange Line

  • Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday, Orange Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for cable installation in support of the Dulles rail project.
  • Throughout the weekend, Orange Line trains will depart Vienna and New Carrollton every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow 10-15 minutes of additional travel time.

Blue Line

  • Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday, Blue Line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road to allow for repairs to the concrete slabs beneath the rails.
  • Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will depart Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center every 20 minutes.
  • Customers should allow 10-15 minutes of additional travel time.

Green Line

  • Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing on Sunday, Green Line trains will single track between Fort Totten and Prince George’s Plaza to allow for track upgrades.
  • Throughout the weekend, Green Line trains will depart Greenbelt and Branch Avenue every 16 minutes.
  • Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time.

Yellow Line

  • To coordinate schedules with single tracking on the Blue and Green lines, Yellow Line trains will operate every 16 minutes throughout the weekend between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square.
  • Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt. Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.
  • Customers should allow 10 minutes of additional travel time.

Sounds like a perfect weekend for walking. At least the forecast is pleasant, with Saturday and Sunday expected to be sunny with highs in the low 70s and upper 60s.

Filed Under: metrorail, National Cherry Blossom Festival, service advisory,