Bad News, Red Liners: Metro Expands Surge 7 Because of the Derailment

WASHINGTON, DC -- Metro Safetrack is back in action on the Red Line, and this time the Surge switches to the other end for the next nine days. Unfortunately, riders will be enduring more headaches than previously expected, as Surge No. 7 begins Tuesday and has been expanded to "accommodate additional repairs identified during special supervisor inspections," a Metro statement reads.

The Surge will include single-tracking between Shady Grove and Twinbrook stations on weekdays through Aug. 18, according to a Metro statement, and the entire line segment will be shut down over the weekend as a direct result of the derailment at East Falls Church station last month, which prompted WMATA to take a closer look at other stations.

"Surge #7 will include around-the-clock single tracking between Shady Grove and Twinbrook on weekdays through August 18, 2016," the statement reads. "In addition, the work zone will be extended the weekend of August 13-14, to include a line segment shutdown between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore with free shuttle buses replacing trains."

WMATA has been struggling with a raft of problems lately, with the East Falls Church derailment causing a series of closer inspections of other rail stations.

"The weekend shutdown will allow track work crews to perform additional switch maintenance, replace crossties and make repairs identified during inspections that need to be addressed," the statement reads. "The nine-day surge will also focus on renewing or replacing rail and power infrastructure between Shady Grove and Twinbrook, with a focus on wooden crossties, fasteners, switches and power cables."

Trains will operate between Shady Grove and Rockville stations every 18 minutes.

"All other Red Line stations will have near-normal service with additional trains operating between Twinbrook and Glenmont and between Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring during weekday rush hours," the statement adds. "All Red Line customers traveling to or from Shady Grove or Rockville are encouraged to use Twinbrook, White Flint or Grosvenor-Strathmore stations instead."

If you have to take the Red Line this weekend, you'll need to use the shuttle buses to get between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore. Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook and White Flint stations will be closed.

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