WASHINGTON -
Effective now, Metro is making some significant changes isrush-hour rail service. Passengers onseveral lines would be well advised to look carefully at train signage beforeboarding, because some trains are "switching lines."
Previously, all Yellow Line trains that originated in Virginia came from the Huntington station. From now on,during rush hours, some trains departing from the Franconia-Springfield stationwill be Yellow Line trains, rather than Blue Line trains. And some Yellow Line trains will go back toFranconia, rather than go to Huntington.
Metro managers believe this will speed the trips for manycommuters who start their trips at Franconiaor Van Dorn stations but really want to get to downtown D.C. as fast aspossible. And vice versa. By turning some of those Blue Line trains intoYellow Line trains, Metro is pushing more trains across its bridge that crossesthe Potomac River.
The fewer Blue Line trains heading to Rosslyn will allowMetro managers to add more Orange Line trains. That, they believe, will relieve some of the chronic overcrowding onthat line in Virginia. But some of those new Orange Line trainswon't go to their regular end-point in Maryland,New Carrollton. Instead, some of theOrange Line trains headed to Maryland --during rush hours -- will end up at Largo Town Center.
"So, it's very important for customers to check thedestination sign on the side of the train before boarding," points outMetro spokesman Dan Stessel. "It'snot just about the line color anymore; it's also about the traindestination."
Metro is calling its new rush hour service "RushPlus", and the transit agency expects some customer confusion in the firstfew days of service.
