WASHINGTON — Now that Metro has taken control of the first phase of the Silver Line, Metro riders and people who drive past Wiehle-Reston East and the new Tysons Corner stations should get ready for some changes.
Metro says there will be more activity on the tracks as safety checks and other testing and training kick into high gear, and the contractor finishes up work on remaining issues including drainage, a permanent fix for a faulty track circuit and fencing.
“We’ll be running trains out there, mostly at night. We are allowing the contractor, DTP, to go out and work to resolve the issues on the track and the wayside areas that they need to clean up and finish,” says Metro Deputy General Manager Rob Troup.
While Metro won’t set an opening date yet, the transit agency says it has until late August to get the line open to passengers, barring any new problems with construction.
Sources have told WTOP that the line could open in fewer than 90 days if there are no unexpected problems in testing or training. That means the line could open in late July or early August.
Metro Transit Police say they will hold two large emergency exercises in the coming weeks to practice response along the Silver Line. The training will include a simulated rescue operation from the elevated tracks near the Spring Hill station and a separate response to another emergency situation.
“One week prior to opening, we will have what we call
