News
MetroBus Shuttles to Supplement MetroLink Service This Week to Accommodate Rail Grinding Maintenance Work
Dianne Wiilliams
Director of Communications
314-982-1440
The MetroLink rail grinding maintenance work moves to Missouri starting tonight and that will impact some Red Line customers who will need to allow an extra 20 minutes for their evening commutes tonight through Friday night. MetroBus shuttles will supplement MetroLink service each weeknight in the work area.
Beginning at 8 p.m. on March 13, 14, 15, and 16 until the end of service each night, MetroLink will conduct rail grinding on the tracks between the Wellston MetroLink Station and the North Hanley MetroLink Station.
To accommodate the crews, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Wellston MetroLink Station, the Rock Road MetroLink Station, the UMSL South MetroLink Station, the UMSL North MetroLink Station, and the North Hanley MetroLink Station Tuesday through Friday evenings.
In addition, not all of the trains will operate from Wellston to North Hanley MetroLink stations. From 8 p.m. until 11:30 p.m., several westbound trains will turn to head back east at the Wellston MetroLink Station, and some eastbound trains will operate only between the North Hanley MetroLink Station and Lambert Airport stations. Passengers on those trains will get off and transfer onto MetroBus shuttles to be transported to the Wellston MetroLink Station, Rock Road MetroLink Station, the UMSL South MetroLink Station, the UMSL North MetroLink Station, and the North Hanley MetroLink Station. Westbound passengers who arrive via shuttle bus at the North Hanley MetroLink Station from the Wellston MetroLink Station, can board a westbound train and continue their commutes to the Lambert Airport terminals. Eastbound passengers who arrive by shuttle bus at the Wellston MetroLink Station from the North Hanley MetroLink Station, can board an eastbound train and resume their commute on MetroLink. Metro supervisors will be available at all affected stations to provide assistance. The bus shuttles will no longer be needed after 11:30 p.m., and all trains will operate on the single track through the affected area.
Red Line customers should plan extra time for their commutes. Customers will encounter delays of up to 20 minutes from the Wellston MetroLink Station to the Lambert Airport Main Terminal.
Blue Line service will not be affected by the evening work Tuesday through Friday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Rail Grinding Schedule for Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18:
Beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, rail grinding crews will work on the tracks between the Wellston MetroLink Station and the Forest Park MetroLink Station. To accommodate the crews, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Delmar MetroLink Station until the end of service Saturday night.
On Saturday, Red Line customers may experience 5 to 10 minute delays. Blue Line service will not be affected by the maintenance work on Saturday.
Beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, rail grinding crews will continue their work on the tracks between the Wellston MetroLink Station and the Forest Park MetroLink Station. To accommodate the crews, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Delmar MetroLink Station and the Forest Park MetroLink Station until the end of service Sunday night.
On Sunday, Red Line and Blue Line customers may experience 5 to 10 minute delays due to the maintenance work.
NOTE: As the special equipment used for the rail grinding slowly moves down the tracks through different communities, it is important to remind residents that the rail grinder creates sparks. On occasion, these sparks will touch off small fires along the tracks. A fire suppression crew follows directly behind the rail grinder to immediately douse any flames. Metro has contacted emergency responders in the affected communities in advance.
Updates on MetroLink operations can be found at www.metrostlouis.org in the Rider Alert section or by calling Customer Service at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
