Metro's New Stuff

So the other day, Metro put a note on its web site talking about the next design of subway cars they are looking at having constructed. These would be the 7-series, or all cars numbers in the 7000s. The 1000s were the old original crappy ones that are still out there breaking down all over the place.

You can see the article here ... http://www.wmata.com/about/met_news/story.cfm?ID=1655 ... They are supposed to be sleek and silver on the outside and feature ergonomic seats on the inside. Oh ... sleek and silver, catchy. The cars would only have 64 seats and there would be no more carpeting on the floor. The first thing that strikes me about this is it seems apparent that Metro doesn't actually want you to sit down. I'm not for certain, but I'm pretty sure 64 seats is less than what is currently offered, and as anyone who has ever ridden the crowded trains knows, it's when everyone is crushed in standing that people get hit with a severe case of the stupid. Or they crowd the doors, or they run over people, etc. It seems like the new cars give people more room to fight their battles by the doors. How nice.

Some of the new cars are supposed to have bench seating, as well. I can't wait to see how that goes over. People battling over a bleacher seat by the door on a crowded rush hour commute is just going to be beautiful to watch. Or, people putting their fat butts in one part of the bench, their bag in another, their purse in another, etc., when other folks need to sit down (elderly, disabled, etc.). Or people on the bleacher seats being thrown forward or backward or sideways and into other people, starting a big old fight when the car comes to a sudden stop and/or lurches forward, since about half the drivers on these things appear unable to stop or start or train without it stuttering forward or backward several times at every station.

In addition, Metro says: "There would be interactive, linear maps automated announcements stating the station names the trains are servicing and security cameras on all rail cars."

Forget the grammar thing - but just think, this is what your fare increase is going to. New flashy maps and cars where no one can get a seat.

But think of it another way ... what Metro hasn't told you is the following:

1) How they are going to keep their trains from breaking down,
2) How they are going to address the "door" and "smoke" problems that they haven't fixed, and
3) How they are going to actually make it so their trains are on time.

The fare increase to do all those things is probably coming later this year.