Washington DC: Rail transit

[202_Cyclist]

Thank you for posting these photos.

WMATA is hosting its "Fleet of the Future" event on the Mall from March 20 through April 3. I took these photos earlier this week of the new 8000-series train cars. They will have seating that goes the length of the train to allow for more passengers to stand and avoiding the crowding by the doors, space for bikes/scooters and luggage, space for wheelchairs, and open passageways between cars.





I am glad the nasty carpet is gone from the train cars.

[Busy Bee]

Overall looks nice but I am admittedly a bit disappointed they have dumbed down the sexy bonnet with clunkier looking light clusters and hardware store grab bars. The same thing happened in NY with the R-211 production car looking substantially less "future" than the exciting prototypes depicted. This 8000 series car on display looks to be the actual production design instead of the cleaner and edgier Hitachi renderings released a couple years back. It's frustrating that vision never seems to make it to reality in this country with transit rolling stock like it seems to be able to oversees. Great industrial design has a habit of being undervalued and undelivered this side of the Atlantic. That said I do think the new BART cars look great.

[ardecila]

Not sure what you mean, there are several iterations floating around on the internet but the mockup on display right now looks pretty good! LED strip headlamps instead of the traditional round clusters on the 7000, chamfered corners that give the front bonnet a sort of octagon look, etc.

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-ap...&high_res=true

Unfortunately I don't love the interiors. Hard plastic seats might be fine for a more urban subway system where many trips are <30 minutes long, but these will be super uncomfortable for suburban commuters taking the long ride from Dulles, Shady Grove, etc. Those longer trips really demand some softer seats like the original Metro stock had, or like you would see on MARC/VRE.

[Busy Bee]

The differences are virtually unnoticeable for probably 99% of people but they are there.

Compare the Hitachi promotional rendering:


___

To the mock-up production car:


___


Just less good in my humble designer opinion.

Top, Mercedes S-Class

Bottom, Chevy Cobalt

[RestonSkylines]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Unfortunately I don't love the interiors. Hard plastic seats might be fine for a more urban subway system where many trips are <30 minutes long, but these will be super uncomfortable for suburban commuters taking the long ride from Dulles, Shady Grove, etc. Those longer trips really demand some softer seats like the original Metro stock had, or like you would see on MARC/VRE.

The seats from the model aren't the real deal, they had a couple seats on display outside the model that are supposed to be accurate to the actual car. They are upholstered if I remember correctly.

[202_Cyclist]

This is great news for passenger rail in DC and the broader mid-Atlantic. The article below is paywalled.

Amtrak wins ruling in Union Station eminent domain lawsuit


By Daniel J. Sernovitz
Washington Business Journal
Apr 22, 2024

"A federal judge has ruled Amtrak acted within its legal authority when it moved two years ago to take the commercial leasehold interest at D.C.'s Union Station by eminent domain.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, in an opinion issued Wednesday, determined the national rail operator "met its burden of proof to exercise its 'quick take' authority" after negotiations to acquire the lease from an affiliate of New York's Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. broke down..."

https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...nt-domain.html

[202_Cyclist]

Here's what ‘immediate’ changes Amtrak has planned for Union Station in wake of court order

By Daniel J. Sernovitz
Washington Business Journal
Apr 25, 2024

"The rail operator is expected to prioritize passenger upgrades once it gains control of the commercial spaces in the historic station..."

https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...urt-order.html

[OhioGuy]

A couple comparison photos of the under-construction purple line from East-West Highway just east of downtown Bethesda. This is a 14-month comparison: early April 2023 (top) vs early June 2024 (bottom).

View looking west in the direction of downtown Bethesda (just around the bend):


View looking east in the direction of Silver Spring:

[SWDC]

The MD Purple Line social media account is posting cryptic messages of exciting news. Humoring people about the like opening in phases, LRV deliveries, etc. Who knows what it was actually be but. I expect something minor but really hoping for something related to opening being earlier than projected.

[OhioGuy]

Construction of second entrance to Crystal City Metro station gets underway
ARLnow | Published July 12, 2024 at 3:00PM

Construction on the long-awaited east entrance to the Crystal City Metro station is getting underway.

Numerous local officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony today (Friday) for the $146.1 million project at the northwest corner of Crystal Drive and 18th Street S.

With expected completion in 2027, the project will improve access to local bus stops, including the Crystal Drive Transitway; a planned Amtrak station; a planned pedestrian bridge leading into Reagan National Airport; the Mount Vernon Trail; and Crystal Drive bike lanes.

Animated Preview:
• Video Link


Source: ARLnow


Source: ARLnow


Source: ARLnow

[202_Cyclist]

Amtrak eyes reshuffling of Union Station shops, restaurants


By Dan Sernovitz
Washington Business Journal
October 17, 2024

"The rail operator wants to expand space for passenger waiting areas without significantly reducing retail square footage..."

https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...10-17&empos=p1

[Prahaboheme]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Amtrak eyes reshuffling of Union Station shops, restaurants


By Dan Sernovitz
Washington Business Journal
October 17, 2024

"The rail operator wants to expand space for passenger waiting areas without significantly reducing retail square footage..."

https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...10-17&empos=p1

Shouldn't be too difficult to figure out. There are plenty of empty retail parcels scattered around Union Station. Reshuffling and consolidating them would provide Amtrak much needed upgrades and make the retail areas more vibrant.

[202_Cyclist]

The article is paywalled but it notes Uniqlo is moving to a larger location in Union Station, Bullfrog Bagels is opening a spot, and an ice cream vendor and other businesses are planning on opening.