Amtrak alters schedules south of Washington on Jan. 19-20
Amtrak will not operate Northeast Regional service south of Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19-20, because of travel restrictions stemming from the Presidential inauguration. Also, the Carolinian will only operate between Raleigh and Charlotte on those dates. An Amtrak advisory also informs passengers to allow extra time to get to and from Washington Union Station because of special pedestrian and vehicle restrictions at and around the station, including the closure of DC Metro’s Union Station stop. Metro’s NOMA/Gallaudet station, a short walk from Union Station, remains open.
Virginia Railway Express suspends operations until Jan. 21
Virginia Railway Express trains will not run Monday through Wednesday, the commuter rail agency has announced. Monday’s shutdown was previously scheduled because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday; Tuesday and Wednesday’s suspension reflects enhanced security measures related to the Presidential inauguration. VRE joins MARC in suspending operations into and out of Washington, D.C. [see “Digest: MARC to suspend operations …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 15, 2021].
Pentagon added to list of DC Metro station closures
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will suspend service to the Pentagon on Wednesday, Jan. 20, as part of security measures by the Pentagon for Inauguration Day. A Metro press release says Blue and Yellow line trains will continue to operate through the Pentagon station but will not stop, while the Pentagon Transit Center, normally served by six Metrobus lines, will be closed. Buses will be relocated to Pentagon City, on the east side of Hayes Street South and 12th Street South, for the day. This one-day closure is in addition to the multi-day shutdown of 13 stations that had been previously announced [see “Digest: Brightline West aims for spring start …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 14, 2021].
