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Washington Metro debuts new 7000-series cars
“Unlike earlier railcar series that can be “mixed and matched” within a single train, the 7000-series cars will operate only with other 7000-series cars”
What a convenient way to have an excuse to purchase more cars. Based on recent events, Metro needs to focus on its maintenance backlog than shiny new tracks it can’t afford to properly maintain
Vestibule privacy–is this code to indicate that passengers will no longer be able to look forward on the first car?
Matthew: As with most other transit systems, older technology does not MU with newer [entirely new generation of railcars]. SEPTA Silverliner V cars will not MU with earlier Silverliners. Earlier Silverliners would not MU with the Bluebirds from the '30s. NJT / Erie-Lackawanna had the same situation with the old Edison cars.
Some perspective needed: in that DC Metro is a sort-of stepchild to BART in the San Francisco Bay region, and BART having recently begun a replacement fleet program, how do these 7000-series cars compare to those BART is seeking to acquire soon?