New 7000 series Metro trains on Blue Line – bike rack info

The new 7000 series trains debuted on the Blue Line this morning. They have several new safety, usability and aesthetic features, including stainless steel construction, vinyl flooring instead of carpeting, automated announcements, LCD screens with station and route information, and improved door function. (If someone gets caught in a door, the door will re-open just enough to let that person remove the arm, leg or bag. But not enough for the person to squeeze in or out completely, thereby delaying the entire train. The individual door will re-open without having all doors on that car re-open, the way that the doors on older Metro trains do.)

Of note for cyclists: The LCD screens have updated route info, showing upcoming stations, dynamically changing as the train travels along the line. Those screens also include information about the next metro station: transfer, parking, bike rack, bikeshare and car sharing.

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If these screens work, this can help to encourage more people to bike commute and use Capital Bikeshare.

I didn’t see the new trains this morning, but I’ll probably ride one soon enough. (I split up my commuting between CaBi and Metro.)

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26422/metros-7000-series-cars-carry-their-first-passengers-in-pictures/