Metro is giving riders a chance to test some of the features planned for the next generation of railcars — the 8000 series — at an exhibit at the Gallery Place station.
Among the features are:
- seats with more cushion
- heated floors that radiate warmth throughout the railcars more efficiently
- fewer seats but more room for people – about 30 more riders per car
- an open walkway concept between railcars, allowing riders to spread out more easily
With aluminum shells, each 8000-series railcar will weigh about 1,000 pounds less than their 7000-series counterparts, which are made of stainless steel. Metro says they are just as strong.
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Metro General Manager Randy Clarke beamed as he spoke about the new features, but he said he knows the trains still need to show up on time as well.
“I think it’s modern, and, again, it’s about the future, but all those things only matter if it’s safe, frequent and reliable, right?” he said.
It will cost an estimated $2.2 billion to build up to 800 of the railcars.
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“Long term, we estimate at least a $10 million energy savings over the life of the vehicle, so it’s not only environmentally better, it’s fiscally better, and I think as leaders of the organization, it’s our job to make every dollar of taxpayer money go into running the system as best as possible,” Clarke said.
The railcars will be built in Hagerstown, Maryland, by Hitachi Rail STS, a different company than the one that built the 7000 series. They are expected to be ready in 2026.
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