D.C.'s Metro unveils first ad-wrapped trains
McDonald's is paying Metro $54,000 for the right to advertise on the exterior of the train.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unveiled its first-ever wrapped passenger railcars, which feature a McDonald's ad. The two Metro railcars will operate on the system's Orange Line for three months as part of a six-car train set. The cars, wrapped in bright green and vinyl coating, showcase McDonald's new fruit salad product. The windows on the rail cars have a screened coating so passengers can see through them. The additional revenue from the ad program will help pay for customer service improvements to the passenger information display monitors inside the rail system. Metro officials have accepted the wrapped train advertising on a trial basis due to the fiscal difficulties of the region. McDonald's is paying Metro $54,000 for the right to advertise on the exterior of the train. Metro currently generates an estimated $29 million annually through Metrobus and Metrorail advertising initiatives.
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