ElendilPickle

We're planning a five-night, four-day trip to Washington DC in early October. The best airfares we've found so far are in and out of BWI. From there, we'll take the MARC train into DC.

As we were looking at transportation information last night, we realized our current departure date is Monday, October 10th, which is Columbus Day. The MARC train won't be running that day, so we're trying to figure if we can take the Metro from either Crystal City or Pentagon City out to the Greeenbelt station and then get the bus to BWI. The Metro schedule is a little unclear; it says it will run on a Saturday schedule, but I can't tell if it will stop at either of those stops.

Can anyone help me figure this out? Thanks so much!

Lee Ann

vjpblovesitaly

Yes, it will stop at that station unless there is scheduled maintenance which closes the station down for the weekend. That won't be posted until a couple of weeks before.

For example, below is a press release from September 2009

"No Green or Yellow Line service at three Metrorail stations for Columbus Day Weekend for track work"
It was released on 08/09
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/new...ReleaseID=4040

People don't generally look at schedules for Metrorail, only Metrobus. They just show up at the station, leaving extra time if it is a weekend or if there is announced track work.

usroadman

Although MARC won't be running, Amtrak does also serve BWI from DC (looks like about every hour). It's a bit more expensive than MARC (looked like $11 vs. $6 for MARC when I looked), but may be an option. See http://www.amtrak.com for times and fares.

ElendilPickle

Thanks, you all! It's good to know we'll have Amtrak as a backup if necessary.

Lee Ann

ElendilPickle

Here's a press release for Columbus Day 2011:


>>Metro will close the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail stations on the Green and Yellow lines during the three-day Columbus Day Holiday Weekend from 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 7, through Monday, Oct. 10. Normal service will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

During the Columbus Day Holiday Weekend, Metro will replace four track switches, which comprise the entire rail interlocking at the U St/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metrorail station to comply with a NTSB recommendation.

yestravel

Good detective work! I have never heard about an entire line being closed when they do weekend work. It can slow down the line as they may one track trains and stations will be closed as u found out. I think they would state it if the Green and/or Yellow line was completely closed. Hopefully someone can answer definitively for you.

BTW -- have taken AMTRAK to BWI and it works just fine. If u book far in advance u may be able to get a discounted fare.

vjpblovesitaly

Reading the entire page of that press release, I would agree with the above. The Columbus Day paragraphs don't make any reference to shuttles between stations or anything as some of the other holiday track work. I also remember a few months ago some stations were closed and there was no service between so there was a shuttle.

Metro on the weekends is a royal pain. I avoid it now when I can (which is most of the time).

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/new...ReleaseID=4797

tomfuller

Sunday October 9 there are 8 Amtrak trains between 6:23AM and 1:52 PM from BWI to WAS. The fare for the regular trains is $11 per person. If you wait till after 2PM you can ride the Acela for $35 per person. There is a free shuttle bus from the terminal to the BWI Amtrak station.
On Monday October 10, there are 5 regular and 3 Acela trains between 8:40AM and Noon from Washington to BWI.
28 minutes on the regular NE corridor trains and 21 minutes on the Acela for 3X the fare.

ElendilPickle

Thanks again, everyone. I have the Amtrak thing sorted out, and we will buy tickets ahead of time if necessary.

I also realized (right after I posted the last time - oy!) that if we stick with the Metro and the Greenbelt-BWI bus, we can transfer to the red line and then get back on the green line past the station where work is being done. We are cheap, so would prefer this option, but Amtrak will work too.

Lee Ann