D.C. Metro Unveils New Rail Cars

[marmar]

D.C. Metro Unveils New Rail Cars
The new 7000-series is designed to minimize the potential danger of crashes

Tuesday, January 07, 2014 - 11:37 AM
By Martin DiCaro : WAMU




Its 1970s-era rail cars creaking with age, Metro finally stepped into the 21st century on Monday, as the transit authority unveiled the first four in its fleet of modern trains scheduled to begin carrying passengers by the end of the year.

At a news conference on the frigid Greenbelt station platform, flanked by mostly Democratic elected officials and political appointees from Maryland and D.C., Metro general manager Richard Sarles heralded the arrival of the 7000-series rail cars, built in Kawasaki’s plant in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The stainless steel cars with non-slip flooring (no carpets!), digital signage and public address systems will be tested for several months, and the rest of the new fleet is expected to begin rolling off Kawasaki’s assembly line in the fall. The 528 7000-series cars on order will cost $1 billion. Combined with an additional 220 cars Metro hopes to order in 2015, pending the availability of funding, more than half of Metro’s fleet would be comprised of 7000-series trains in five years.



“These cars are replacing 40-year-old rail cars that are unreliable and cause delays today. So instead of matching the old design, we decided to make a clean break and create a car with the future of Metro in mind,” Sarles said. “The new cars are safer and more customer-friendly than the cars in service today, providing a new level of technology and on-board amenities for riders.” ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/dc-metro-upgrade-rail-cars/

[Agschmid]

1. I need to get to DC!

[Laf.La.Dem.]

2. WOW - made in USA!!

Nice surprise