All Metro Subway stations will be closed this weekend as the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) tests a new Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC).
From Friday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 7 at 4 a.m. all stations will be closed. During that time, shuttle buses will be available to transport riders between all stations every 30 minutes during regular service hours.
The Maryland Department of Transportation called the CBTC system a “critical piece of infrastructure” that will begin supporting the new Metro Subway railcars that will begin service in mid-2025.
Communications Based Train Control is a railway signaling system used to improve traffic management and control. Using telecommunications between the train and track equipment, CBTC allows the train’s position to be more accurately conveyed, making traffic management and control more efficient and safer.
“We’re excited to welcome our new Metro trains to Baltimore and a modern Communications Based Train Control System will ensure a successful transition,” said Holly Arnold, Maryland Transit Administrator. “We are working hard to minimize disruptions, and we are grateful to our passengers for their patience during the testing period.”
MTA will keep riders informed through signage at each station and on vehicles, platform announcements, updates on social media and the MTA website, and the e-alert notification system. Transit Ambassadors also will be at Metro Subway stations to assist riders. Passengers needing additional information can contact the Transit Information Contact Center at 410-539-5000.
The new CBTC system is part of MTA’s $400 million investment in upgrades and maintenance for the Metro Subway. It will improve real-time tracking and overall system performance and reliability. More testing will be needed to ensure the new train control system is compatible with the older one. That additional testing is expected to take place in November and December 2024, and in February, March, and April 2025, prompting system closures at those times as well.
The MTA operates Local Bus, Commuter Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC Train Service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. It is one of the largest multi-modal transit systems in the United States, serving nearly 53 million people annually.
