News
Weekend Rail Grinding Schedule for MetroLink
Dianne Williams
Director of Communications
314-982-1440
MetroLink rail grinding maintenance work continues this weekend in Illinois and some Red Line and Blue
Line customers will experience short delays as a result. As the special equipment used for the rail grinding
slowly moves down the tracks through different Metro east 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. That
is why a fire suppression crew follows directly behind the rail grinder to immediately douse any flames. Area
residents should not worry if they see sparks or possibly tiny fires near the special train. Metro contacted
emergency responders in the affected communities in advance just in case they get calls from the public.
Below is the rail grinding schedule for today, March 10, and Sunday, March 11:
Beginning at 4 p.m., rail grinding crews will work on the tracks between the Washington Park and Fairview
Heights MetroLink stations. To accommodate the crews, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the
Washington Park MetroLink Station and Fairview Heights MetroLink Station until the end of service each
night. Blue Line trains will only operate between the Shrewsbury MetroLink Station and the Emerson
Park MetroLink Station. Blue Line customers east of Emerson Park should allow for 10 minute delays.
Red Line customers may experience 5 to 10 minute delays.
Blue Line customers who want to continue eastbound into Illinois will need to get off the train at the
Emerson Park MetroLink Station and board a Red Line train to continue eastbound. Westbound Blue Line
passengers at the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station, the Washington Park MetroLink Station and the
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center MetroLink Station will need to board a Red Line train to travel westbound to
Emerson Park. There, they can transfer to a Blue Line train and continue their westbound commute.
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.
