Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reopened six Metrorail stations south of Reagan National Airport on Sunday, Nov. 6, after an extended closure for work associated with the new Potomac Yard Station and the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge project.
Blue Line trains will serve the six station - Braddock Rd, King St-Old Town, Eisenhower Ave, Huntington, Van Dorn St and Franconia-Springfield – while long-term work continues to rehabilitate the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge.
WMATA is also making progress on the Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which began during the closure. The Yellow Line will remain suspended through May 2023 while these critical tunnel and bridge repairs continue. Instead, the reopened stations will be served by additional Blue Line service. Trains will run every 15 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Largo on the Blue Line, with Blue Plus service operating every 15 minutes between Huntington and New Carrollton.
The eight-week closure, which began Sept. 10, allowed WMATA’s project teams to relocate 2,000 feet of existing tracks and connect to the new tracks through the new Potomac Yard Station. Additional work included the installation and testing of traction power and automatic train control infrastructure crucial to powering trains and ensuring safe operations. Major construction is now complete, as well as train testing, which involved running test trains without passengers throughout the station.
“Watching the test trains go through the station reminds us we are nearing the finish line of this large and significant capital project that will serve the region for decades to come,” said General Manager Randy Clarke. “We thank our customers and partners for their patience as the team ensures we provide the safest and best experience for this beautiful station.”
As the Potomac Yard Station gets closer to the end line, more work is needed prior to opening in 2023. Crews continue working to complete construction of the east retaining wall, paving the access roads, installing interior features at the station, such as modern fare gates, fare machines and the station manager kiosk.
