Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 21, 2005

Metro outlines plans for eight-car trains

Up to half of Metro trains will be eight-cars long in about three-and-a half years, under a schedule for power upgrades and train delivery discussed during today’s Board committee meeting.

"This will reduce the level of crowding on the Metrorail system by almost 10 percent during the most congested periods of the day, while providing capacity and support for additional ridership growth," said Metro CEO/General Manager Richard A. White.

Metro managers also told the Operations, Customer Service and Safety Committee that running fewer, but longer trains as recommended earlier this year by an American Public Transportation Association peer review panel would improve reliability.

"The advantage of running fewer, but longer trains is that there would be fewer delays because there would be less opportunity for trains to back up during rush hours. On-time performance could improve up to 98 percent on all lines," said Jim Hughes, acting assistant general manager of operations. "It’s also less stress on the system because fewer trains would be traveling through certain choke points."

The rail system ideally is designed to run 26 trains or less per hour per line. Metro is exceeding or nearing capacity at certain choke points on most lines. Right now, 29 trains per hour move on the Orange and Blue lines between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory to meet ridership demand during rush hours. Twenty-four trains per hour travel on the Red Line between Grosvenor and Silver Spring and 23 trains per hour on the Green and Yellow lines between L’Enfant Plaza and Mt. Vernon Square during rush hours.

With the completion of power system upgrades and the delivery of the first part of an order of 184 additional rail cars, Metro officials plan to have 20 percent of its trains, eight-cars long by December 2006. Thirty-three percent of the fleet would be eight-cars long, and four-car trains would be eliminated by December 2007. Eight-car trains would make up about half of the fleet by late 2008.

Officials said they could operate 15 eight-car trains on the Red, Orange and Green l ines during rush hours before December 2006 if the Board supports running fewer but longer trains and provided the power system can support the additional trains.

Metro currently operates eight-car trains as needed for special events.

News release issued on July 21, 2005.