Posts tagged Rail Cars
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Unapproved process change grounds Metro’s 7000-series railcars (again)
Metro’s 7000-series railcar fleet has been grounded, again, after problems with wheelset inspections caused the agency’s safety oversight body to reverse a plan to return them to service. Keep reading…
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Investigators are narrowing in on a root cause of this month’s Red Line train pull-apart
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission said on Tuesday that the preliminary investigation into this month’s Red Line train pull-apart may have been a repeat of another pull-apart from 2018. In another safety report, the WMSC said a Metro train was sent through a tunnel that could’ve had smoke in it, contrary to agency protocols. Keep reading…
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Metro Reasons: New 7000-series railcar deliveries are on hold
A “workmanship deficiency” has caused Metro to halt deliveries of new 7000-series railcars until the issue is resolved, according to the agency. Metro received its last car just over two months ago, and additional checks and work need to be done before deliveries pick up again. Keep reading…
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Metro’s 7000-series cars require more electricity, but the agency says there’s no systemic issue
The new 7000-series cars are pulling more power than expected, forcing WMATA to budget more for electricity. However, they’re otherwise still on their way to achieving the reliability requirements Metro set out. Keep reading…
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Are private, high-speed trains the future of travel? I tested one out to see.
As a planner, I'm keenly aware that Brightline’s service model cannot be easily copied by public transportation agencies. However, while public transit agencies can't implement Brightline’s entire playbook, they can use some of its plays. Keep reading…
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Metro is seeking input on the how to design its 8000-series railcars
Metro is seeking input on the design for its new railcars, including the seating arrangements. Longitudinal seating was considered when the 7000-series trains were being designed, but then scrapped. Now WMATA is considering it again. Keep reading…
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Metro’s latest reliability numbers are out. Not great, but could be worse.
Metro wants an 85% customer satisfaction rate for rail and bus, and it’s currently not hitting that. But there are some signs that railcars are becoming more reliable, which could help curb the system’s loss of riders. This comes from Metro’s released latest quarterly vital signs report, which is essentially a report card on how the agency is performing. Keep reading…
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Metro’s 7000 series cars are starting to prove their worth
It’s been about two years since Metro first introduced the 7000 series railcars, which were designed to expand the rail fleet and replace older cars. The hope was also that they’d be more reliable, and while there is still the occasional breakdown, they’re well on their way to serving that purpose. Keep reading…
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Metro dips its toe into the 8000 series water
On Tuesday, Metro released an initial “expression of interest” asking some preliminary questions about creating its next series of railcar, the 8000 series. Those cars won’t arrive for a very long time, but when they do they might include open-gangway railcars and push-button doors. Keep reading…
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The Virginia Avenue Tunnel is halfway finished, meaning bigger freight trains can now pass through DC
Last Friday, a train made its first run through a new tunnel under Virginia Avenue on Capitol Hill in DC. It’s the first time rail cars with two storage containers stacked on top of one another have been able to pass through the area. Soon, a second tunnel will double the fun. Keep reading…