Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16 , 2008
BUSES TO SUBSTITUTE FOR HIAWATHA TRAINS FOR PART OF OCT. 25
MINNEAPOLIS – (Oct. 16) – Metro Transit buses will replace trains along the entire Hiawatha light-rail line from 2 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 25, to accommodate maintenance activities. Customers should plan accordingly.
During this eight-hour period, buses will operate more frequently than trains, but bus trips will take significantly longer than train rides. Metro Transit rail and bus staff members will be on hand at key stations to direct customers to replacement service, which will include up to 30 buses operating along the 12-mile Hiawatha Line.
The Oct. 25 service interruption will allow Metro Transit to make software enhancements that will streamline train operations between the two stations that serve Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Fire suppression equipment in the airport tunnel and Minnehaha Park tunnel will be tested, downtown skyways over the Hiawatha Line will be cleaned and repaired and a required bi-annual test of track and signal equipment near Cedar/Riverside station will be accomplished.
Test trains may operate occasionally during the shutdown. They will not be permitted to carry customers.
In addition to the Oct. 25 service interruption, Metro Transit also will close Downtown East/Metrodome station from 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, until 3:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 27, for platform maintenance.
During this period customers should use Government Plaza Station, four blocks north. Also during this period northbound trains could be delayed up to five minutes beginning at 11 p.m. each day.
No major events are scheduled at the Metrodome during this period.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, operates the Hiawatha light-rail line. Customers boarded Hiawatha trains 7.6 million times through September 2008, a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2007.
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(Editors: For information call Bob Gibbons, director of customer services, 612-349-7509 or via e-mail at robert.gibbons@metc.state.mn.us)
