Metro Unveils New '7000-Series' Car Model

Metro unveiled a mock-up of its new "7000-series" cars on Monday, marking what it called "a major milestone toward improving safety, reliability and customer convenience," according to a Metro statement.

"The safety of our passengers is our absolute highest priority," General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles said.

"The introduction of these new cars will allow us to address another [National Transportation Safety Board] recommendation and remove all 1000-series cars from service, increasing the overall safety and reliability of the system," he added.

The mock-up car will remain on Metro property this month to allow Metro railcar engineers, mechanical teams and train operators to review the design in detail. After that, the car will go to Lincoln, NE, to help with production of the cars there, Metro reported.

The new cars will have (according to Metro's website):

• Stainless steel car bodies for increased durability.
• Closed circuit television cameras for added safety and security.
• LCD map displays to allow customers to easily track their locations.
• LED screens that provide current and upcoming station information.
• Improved seats that provide more knee room and better lumbar support.
• Wider aisles to facilitate movement within the car.
• Additional space near the doors for passengers standing or in wheelchairs.
• Resilient nonslip flooring, rather than carpet flooring.
• Digital public address systems for improved announcement clarity.
• More reliable door systems using proven technology.