D.C.: Old Railcars Slow Down Metro Progress

[marmar]

Metro’s fleet of aging trains — scheduled for replacement over the next several years — continues to bedevil commuters, risking Metro’s message that things actually are getting better halfway through a six-year, $5 billion rebuilding effort.

As D.C.'s Metro continues its system-wide rebuilding program that will run through 2017, transit authority officials say real progress has been made fixing track and signaling infrastructure to improve the reliability of rail service. Yet on a day-to-day basis, railcar breakdowns and delays frustrate riders already annoyed by another fare increase.

If commuters judge the quality of service based on personal experience, quarterly progress reports on system reliability may mean little compared to the delays that make them late for work, squeezed onto packed platforms or inside old railcars without air conditioning. Because even as the number of delays caused by track or signal problems dwindle, Metro’s fleet of aging trains — scheduled for replacement over the next several years — continues to bedevil commuters, risking Metro’s message that things actually are getting better halfway through the six-year, $5 billion rebuilding effort.

June: a snapshot

As he rode the Red Line to work one morning, Jason Stonewall shared his feelings about Metro’s oldest line: “It’s horrible.” Stonewall pulled out his smartphone to scroll through old Metro text message alerts. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/old-railcars-slow-down-metro-progress/

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[hootinholler]

2. The Fucking Red Line is hosed

I ride it daily.

The platforms at transfer stations are dangerously narrow.

The arrival time signs are often fiction.

Since January, I've been on 4 trains that were offloaded, usually because of door issues.

Yeah the Red Line sucks, but it is still way cheaper than driving downtown and parking.

[Raine1967]

4. The red line has been a hot mess this year.

It does seems like that line, being the oldest, has the oldest cars. Of all the lines, that one always seems most crowded.

You are correct, it's still way cheaper than driving into town.

I appreciate Metro. We don't drive into DC unless we really have to.

[Wounded Bear]

3. American infrastructure...

needs a shitload of money thrown at it.

Now.