Springfield-Franconia - Greenbelt service to begin 06 2012

[Sand Box John]

In order to increase service on the Orange line WMATA will divert selected Blue line trains across the Fenwik Bridge and up the mid city E and F routes beginning 04 2012. Former Blue line slots through Rosslyn will be used by the Orange line. The Blue line trains that would have terminated at Largo will be replace by Orange line train. Color of new line to be determined. Previous documents on this new service had the line color as Aqua and Brown. From what I understand the styling of the system map will be different then the existing maps.

Blue/Yellow Line Service Realignment (2.27 MB PDF file)

In order to create the new service WMATA will have to modify more the 2600 station signs, replace over 5000 system maps in stations and aboard the trains and replace more then 1200 fare charts.

This is the first phase of the transitioning of the routing of trains through the urban core to accommodate the future Tysons Dulles Loudoun County Silver line. No word on if the pylon strip maps will also be modified to show the Silver line.

[SchuminWeb]

In order to create the new service WMATA will have to modify more the 2600 station signs, replace over 5000 system maps in stations and aboard the trains and replace more then 1200 fare charts.

Those numbers just absolutely blow me away, but it's true when you think about it, and certainly does add up to a significant amount of money when doing service changes.  Gotta put new markers on signs, update strip maps, etc. etc. etc.  There's certainly more signage than one realizes in the Metro system, that's for sure.

Also, does anyone know if the LED signage on the trains (Breda rehabs, CAF, and Alstom) can handle other colors than the current service colors?  If it doesn't, adding a new line color might either incur more costs in upgrading the train signs, or an awkward sign with no spot.

Lastly, I have a feeling that Metro could probably get away with just calling the changed service Yellow, considering the route differs so little from the regular Yellow Line.

[79MetroExtraMD]

In order to create the new service WMATA will have to modify more the 2600 station signs, replace over 5000 system maps in stations and aboard the trains and replace more then 1200 fare charts.

Those numbers just absolutely blow me away, but it's true when you think about it, and certainly does add up to a significant amount of money when doing service changes.  Gotta put new markers on signs, update strip maps, etc. etc. etc.  There's certainly more signage than one realizes in the Metro system, that's for sure.

Also, does anyone know if the LED signage on the trains (Breda rehabs, CAF, and Alstom) can handle other colors than the current service colors?  If it doesn't, adding a new line color might either incur more costs in upgrading the train signs, or an awkward sign with no spot.

Lastly, I have a feeling that Metro could probably get away with just calling the changed service Yellow, considering the route differs so little from the regular Yellow Line.

I'm sure they might be able to program these signs in. Speaking of which, how is it that Friendship Heights turnbacks during trackwork still get signed up as SPECIAL? Also, outside of replacing every last single sign, you have to think about the bus announcements as well. I'm curious as to see how all of this plays out come next summer.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

There is no Friendship Heights destination code, so SPECIAL it has to be. 

The LED signs (and flip dots) are only capable of showing the current 5 colors. 

[79MetroExtraMD]

There is no Friendship Heights destination code, so SPECIAL it has to be. 

The LED signs (and flip dots) are only capable of showing the current 5 colors. 

I wouldn't be surprised if they have to upgrade those LED signs to show white LEDs for the Silver line. I wonder if its even possible to do alternating signs.

[Sand Box John]

WMATAGMOAGH
There is no Friendship Heights destination code, so SPECIAL it has to be.

Oren you're kind of correct. There is in fact a Friendship Heights destination code, the problem is said destination code will render NO PASSENGERS in the sign box. Said code will select a route other then the normal route at multiple interlockings, hence the reason why NO PASSENGERS is rendered in the sign box.

Destination code 01 renders SPECIAL in the sign box. WMATA likely modified software in the interlocking to respond to code 01 to relay the train there. Easier and cheaper then modifying destination code software aboard all of the rolling stock.

[SchuminWeb]

Destination code 01 renders SPECIAL in the sign box. WMATA likely modified software in the interlocking to respond to code 01 to relay the train there. Easier and cheaper then modifying destination code software aboard all of the rolling stock.

I presume it's the same idea about how certain station names are rendered on PIDS when their trains are "SPECIAL"?  The one I can think of right offhand like that is Judiciary Square, which renders as "Judi Sq" on the PIDS, but the trains are specials.

[Sand Box John]

SchuminWeb
I presume it's the same idea about how certain station names are rendered on PIDS when their trains are "SPECIAL"?  The one I can think of right offhand like that is Judiciary Square, which renders as "Judi Sq" on the PIDS, but the trains are specials.

Could be, don't know for sure. Like I said, WMATA likely modified software in the interlocking.