WMATA: Additional Rail Cars To Hike Percentage of 8-Car Trains (DC Metro)

Additional Rail Cars To Hike Percentage of 8-Car Trains


Red, Orange and Green Line Metrorail riders will now enjoy more comfort and extra space as the transit authority is adding 20 rail cars to the fleet on Monday, December 10. As a result, 20 percent of Metro’s trains will be eight-cars long during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

Metro will expand three, six-car Red Line trains into eight-car trains, and two six-car trains to eight-car trains on the Orange and Green lines during rush hour. The remaining six-cars will be used as a “gap” train that will be on stand-by in case another train has to be removed from passenger service.

“We made a promise to our customers that our fleet would have 20 percent eight-car trains in the peak, and we kept our word,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

With the additional 20 rail cars, Metro will use 820 rail cars during the morning and afternoon rush hours each weekday. It’s the first time in the agency’s 31-year history that 820 rail cars will be in service at one time.

In October, Metro added 18 rail cars to the fleet, which eliminated four-car trains on the Blue and Yellow lines during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

“With the additional 20 rail cars entering service on Monday, 20 percent of our rail fleet will consist of eight-car trains during the peak period,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Metrorail. “The placement of these rail cars represent a new, higher level of capacity and convenience for our customers.”

The addition of these 20 rail cars to the fleet is possible because more of Metro’s newest rail cars, the 6000 series rail cars are ready for use. Metro has 128 of these new rail cars in service, and continues to test new cars each weekday. The new 6000 series rail cars have a slightly modified look, including additional overhead and seat back-to-ceiling handrails and fewer windscreens. The floor to ceiling poles were removed to eliminate obstructions in the doorways and allow improved passenger flow down the aisles.

The 6000 series cars made their debut last fall. Metro expects to have all 184 of these new cars in service in 2008.

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