D.C. Metro unveils new full-scale railcar mock-up

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) unveiled a new full-scale mock-up of its next generation railcars, known as the 7000-series, at an event today.

The new cars represent the largest investment in Metro’s fleet in the system’s history.

Production of the cars is expected to begin this winter in Lincoln, Neb., and is being credited with the creation of about 1,000 new jobs nationwide.

The new fleet of railcars will offer a full slate of safety enhancements and customer amenities, including:

• Stainless steel car body for increased durability
• Closed circuit television cameras for added safety and security
• LCD map displays to allow customers to easily track their location
• LED screens that provide current and upcoming station information
• Improved seats that provide more knee room and better lumbar support
• Wider aisles to facilitate movement within the car
• Additional space near the doors for standees and wheelchairs
• Resilient nonslip flooring, rather than carpet
• Digital public address systems for improved announcement clarity
• More reliable door systems using proven technology

“The safety of our passengers is our absolute highest priority,” said GM/CEO Richard Sarles. “The introduction of these new cars will allow us to address another NTSB recommendation and remove all 1000-series cars from service, increasing the overall safety and reliability of the system.”

Metro recently announced the closure of five NTSB recommendations.

The hard mock-up will remain on Metro property this month to allow Metro railcar engineers, mechanical teams and train operators to review the design in detail. Following that, the car will be moved to Lincoln, Neb., to facilitate the production of revenue-service cars.