 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2018) |
The rolling stock of the Washington Metro system consists of 1,242 75-foot (22.86 m) cars that were acquired across seven orders. All cars operate as married pairs (consecutively numbered even-odd), with systems shared across the pair. The 7000-series cars, the system's newest, have an operator's cab in only one of each married pair's cars and operate in groups of three or four.[1]
The system's track gauge is 4 ft 8+1⁄4 in (1,429 mm) – 0.25 inches (6 mm) narrower than 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.[2] Also, at 40 inches (1,016 mm) above top of rail,[2] the floor height of the cars is lower than that of most other East Coast mass transit systems, including New York City, Boston[3] and Philadelphia.
As of May 2024[update], Metro owns a fleet of 1,216 cars, 1,208 of which were in active revenue service.
| Active railcars | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Manufacturer | Number purchased [4] | Entered service | Planned retirement | Currently owned [4] | Currently active [4] | Planned replacement |
| 3000 | Breda | 290 | 1987 | 2027–2029 | 284 | 280 | 8000-Series |
| 6000 | Alstom | 184 | 2006 | 184 | 180[5] + 2 as money train |
8000-series (if option order is exercised)[6] | |
| 7000 | Kawasaki | 748 | 2015 | 748 | 748[7] | ||
| Retired railcars | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Manufacturer | Number purchased [4] | Entered service | Retired | Currently owned [4] | Replacement |
| 1000 | Rohr | 300 | 1976 | 2016–2017 | 2 preserved[8] | 7000-series |
| 2000 | Breda | 76 | 1982 | 2024[9] | 2 preserved | 8000-series |
| 4000 | Breda | 100 | 1991 | 2017[10] | 2 preserved | 7000-series |
| 5000 | CAF / AAI | 192 | 2001 | 2018–2019[11] | 2 preserved | |
| Future railcars | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Series | Manufacturer | Number purchased [4] | Entered service (estimated) |
| 8000 | Hitachi[12] | 256 (with options for up to 800)[13] (proposed) |
2027[14] |
- ^ @wmataGM (January 10, 2024). ""7k as 6 car trains"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "WMATA Summary – Level Rail Car Performance For Design And Simulation" (PDF). WMATA. October 13, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 14, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ Washington, Robin (February 26, 2015). "On the T, one size doesn't fit all". The Boston Globe. p. A.13. [dead link] Alt URL (Archive link is only to one-sentence abstract; subscription required)
- ^ a b c d e f "Metrorail Fleet Management Plan" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. December 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ^ "4A Metrorail Fleet Strategy" (PDF). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Metro starts next fleet renewal". Metro Report International. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
7000 series return 2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ WMATA [@wmata] (October 27, 2017). "Milestone: As of today, all 1000-series passenger cars (except #1000-1001 which are being preserved) have been sent to scrap yard" (Tweet). Retrieved November 10, 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ "The end of an era: Metro to retire the 2000-series train". Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ Tuss, Adam (February 13, 2018). "Say Goodbye: Metro Retires Its Most Unreliable Trains". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EOLwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ George, Justin. "Metro selects Hitachi Rail to build its next-generation rail car". Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "Metro begins 8000-series railcar procurement". WMATA. September 4, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "Metro's Fleet of the Future". WMATA. Retrieved April 4, 2024.