Metro’s 7000 series cars carry their first passengers, in pictures
The first train of Metro’s new 7000 series cars is in service and carrying passengers today. Enjoy this photo tour of the new train and its first passenger service ride.
The first 7000 series train arrives at Addison Road on its return trip. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
WMATA placed its initial order for the new set of railcars back in 2010. So far, WMATA has ordered 528 new railcars and may exercise an option to add 220 more. The first 64 cars will add capacity for the Silver Line, while the next 300 will replace the aging 1000 series, which the NTSB deemed structurally deficient, by 2017. The rest of the cars will replace Metro’s 4000 series, which are susceptible to breakdowns, and help add capacity when Phase II of the Silver Line opens in 2018.
The first ride
On the rails, approaching National Airport. Photo by Ned Russell.
The first 7000 series loads at Metro Center. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
First ride swag. Photo by Kelli Raboy.
New seating arrangements
Each new car has 64 vinyl-padded seats with increased knee room. There is additional open space around each door, and the aisles are noticeably wider (2 inches) than older cars. There are also more vertical handholds near the doors and on the back of seats.
New seating. Photo by Aimee Custis
Space for wheelchairs and additional standees. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
New safety features
The new cars feature a number of new safety elements that improve crashworthiness, meet fire safety standards, and update system monitoring with surveillance systems and event recorders.
New signage and announcements
The new cars contain dynamic LCD route maps and video screens with information about upcoming stations and automated public address systems. Here’s some audio of the new announcements.
The video screens show transfer, parking, bike rack, bike sharing, and car sharing information. They even display which side doors will open at the next station.
New dynamic video screens. Photo by Kelli Raboy.
New dynamic route maps. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
The new cars have two destination signs on either side. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
Upgraded fixtures
The new cars feature the resilient nonslip flooring and improved lighting similar to what Metro has already installed in some 6000 series cars.
When something (or someone) gets caught in a door, the new doors bounce back, more like elevator doors, and only the affected door reopens, though the corresponding announcement plays throughout the entire train.
If you didn’t catch this morning’s train, there will be plenty of opportunities to ride soon. Metro plans to add another 7000 series train to passenger service within the coming weeks, and a total of eight 7000 series trains should be in service by the end of June.
In the meanwhile, enjoy a few more pictures.
Gone is the brown stripe, but the “disco ball” comes in its place. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
Standing at Arlington Cemetery. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.
#newtrain. Photo by Matt’ Johnson.