Washington Metro rolling stock

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A train of Rohr cars arrives at Cheverly station.

The rolling stock of the Washington Metro rail system consists of 952 75-foot cars, delivered in five shipments. All rail cars in the Metrorail system operate in married pairs, with systems shared across the pair.

1 1000-Series
2 2000-Series
3 3000-Series
4 4000-Series
5 5000-Series
6 6000-Series
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] 1000-Series

The original order of 300 Metro cars was manufactured by Rohr Industries, with delivery in 1976. These cars are numbered 1000-1299, and were rehabilitated in the mid-1990's by Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie and WMATA at their Brentwood Shop in Washington, D.C. These cars originally used cam-controlled DC propulsion and contained rollsigns which have since been changed to flip-dot technology. The rehabilitation added exterior speakers in place of one rollsign on each side and also marked the first set of cars to have AC propulsion. The bulkhead on the ends of the cars are also distinguished by windows with aluminum frames that extend the full height of the train compared to other car classes. The interiors have a white grained appearance with orange and brown seats. The cars contain 81 seats. Future orders would have seating reduced down to 64 or 68 since seats next to the doors would be removed for additional standing areas.

Of these original 300 cars, 1029, separated from its mate after it was destroyed during the Federal Triangle derailment in 1982, has become the feeler car that checks system clearances. 1114 and 1115 have been renamed 8002 and 8003, and now serve as the money train to collect the revenue from station farecard machines. 1076 faces an uncertain future, after its mate was destroyed in the November 3, 2004 accident at Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan. [1]

Car Builder: Rohr Industries, Winder, Georgia, USA
Dates Built: 1973-1976
Rehabilitated: 1993-1996
Rehabilitated by: WMATA Brentwood Shop/Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Washington, DC, USA
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 1000-1299
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Cast Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: General Electric AC Traction with GTO/solid-state inverters
Seating capacity: 81
Total Capacity: 175

[edit] 2000-Series

A train of 2000-Series Breda cars at Huntington following rehabilitation.

The second order, of 76 cars, was through Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie (Breda), with delivery in 1982. These cars are numbered 2000-2075, and were rehabilitated in 2003 and 2004 by Alstom in Hornell, New York. The cars, as part of a rehabilitation project, have received new AC propulsion systems with IGBT technology, which replaced the original cam-controlled DC propulsion systems. Also included are railcar monitoring systems, advanced ATC/ATS control systems, exterior LED destination signs, interior LED next stop signs, and improved emergency exit signage. They also received the red, white, and blue interior found on the 5000-series cars.

Car Builder: Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy
Dates Built: 1981-1983
Rehabilitated: 2002-2004
Rehabilitated by: Alstom Transportation, Hornell, New York, USA
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 2000-2075
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Fabricated Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters (post rehab)
Seating capacity: 68
Total Capacity: 175

[edit] 3000-Series

A train of original Breda 3000-Series cars approaches the Grosvenor-Strathmore station.

The third order consisted of 290 cars, also from Breda, with delivery in 1987. These cars are numbered 3000-3289 as originally delivered, and are currently undergoing rehabilitation by Alstom in Hornell, New York. As part of this rehabilitation project, they received AC propulsion systems with IGBT technology, replacing the chopper-controlled DC propulsion system. Also included in the rehabilitation: addition of railcar monitoring systems, advanced ATC/ATS control systems, exterior LED destination signs, interior LED next stop signs, and improved emergency exit signage. They also received the red, white, and blue interior found on the 5000-series cars.

Car Builder: Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy
Dates built: 1984-1988
Rehabilitated: 2004-2006
Rehabilitated by: Alstom Transportation, Hornell, NY, USA
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 3000-3289
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Fabricated Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters (post rehab)
Seating capacity: 68
Total Capacity: 175

[edit] 4000-Series

A train of Breda 4000-series cars arrives at King Street station.

The fourth order consisted of 100 cars from Breda, numbered 4000-4099. These cars were delivered in 1991. They use all the original systems that the 2000/3000-series cars had prior to their rehabilitation. There are some minor differences between these and the pre-rehabilitated Breda cars. First, the bulkhead windows are rounded as compared to squared. Also, the 4000 series cars are the only cars in the Washington Metro system to not feature exterior speakers. However, they still have the original flip-dot exterior destination signs, chopper controlled DC propulsion systems, and the original cream, orange, and yellow interiors. Rehabilitation of these cars will occur around 2011 at the earliest.

Car Builder: Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie, Pistoia, Italy
Dates Built: 1991-1993
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 4000-4099
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Fabricated Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: Westinghouse 1462 DC motors with chopper controls
Seating capacity: 68
Total Capacity: 175

[edit] 5000-Series

A train of CAF cars boards passengers at L'Enfant Plaza station.

The fifth order consisted of 192 rail cars from a joint venture of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain and AAI Corporation of Hunt Valley, Maryland. These cars are numbered 5000-5191, with delivery in 2001. The contract consisted of CAF engineering and designing the cars along with project management while AAI performed assembly. These cars were the first shipment to have AC motors from the start. They were also the first to have LED destination signs on the exterior and LED next stop indication signs on the interiors. Along with these improvements, they were also the first to have intercar safety barriers (which have since been added to all other rolling stock) and railcar monitoring systems. The 5000-series cars premiered the red, white, and blue interior. This interior design has since been used on the 2000/3000-series rehabilitation project. Another feature that is new since the Rohr cars is the return of cast steel trucks. ^[1] This was done as a cost measure since fabricated trucks take additional time to manufacture due to the machining required.

Car Builder: CAF/AAI, Zaragosa and Bessain, Spain and Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA
Dates Built: 2001-2004
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 5000-5191
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Cast Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: Bombardier Mitrac DR1000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters
Seating capacity: 68
Total Capacity: 175

[edit] 6000-Series

Alstom 6024 at Branch Avenue.

Most recently, Metro has ordered 184 rail cars from Alstom, the same company that is rehabilitating the Breda cars. Delivery is expected to begin in late 2005 with initial service expected in summer 2006. These cars are currently undergoing acceptance testing. They will look nearly identical to the 5000-series cars built by CAF, but feature revised styling. This is evident with bulkhead doors that will have rounded windows compared to squared, and a revised operator window design which eliminates the top horizontal bar. Both of these changes are similar to what is found the Rohr 1000 series cars. A major change that will occur for the first time since the Breda 2000 series cars is the reduction of seating. The 6000 series cars will seat 64 instead of 68. The interior has been completely redesigned to allow for additional standing room and easier access to all portions of the car. New to the 6000 series cars will be the addition of two interior LED next stop indicators located at the center of the car, which brings the total to four interior displays per car. Another new feature is that they will be the first series of cars that will be originally manufactured with the flashing brake indicators on the far ends of each car. These are similar to what is used on the Rohr cars and the rehabilitated Bredas, and indicate when the train is in the final stages of stopping. Mechanically, the 6000 series cars will feature the same cast trucks as the CAF cars, and use the same propulsion systems and advanced cab signaling systems found in the Breda 2000/3000-series rehabilitation from Alstom. The new cars will have their body shells built in Barcelona, Spain, and have assembly completed in Hornell, New York.^[2]

Car Builder: Alstom Transportation, Barcelona, Spain and Hornell, New York, USA
Dates Built: 2005-2008
Car Body: Extruded Aluminum
Car Numbers: 6000-6183
Car Length: 75 feet (23 m)
Car Width: 10 feet (3 m)
Car Height: 11.8 feet (3.59 m)
Track Gauge: 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches (1.43 m)
Truck Type: Cast Steel
Maximum Operating Speed: ~65 MPH
Propulsion System: Alstom ONIX 2000 AC Traction with IGBT Inverters
Seating capacity: 64
Total Capacity: 175

It was reported in the Washington Post that the 6000 series cars would be delayed three to five months before they are put into revenue service because of manufacturing issues with the truck pins on 182 of the 184 cars being produced. These have been retrofitted or replaced.^[3]

The first six-car train was placed into service on Friday, October 6, 2006 at 11:30 AM on its inaugural trip from Greenbelt to Branch Avenue.^[4]