KUDOS to METRORAIL - NOW offering sauna cars at no extra charge!!! (Car # 5002)
Seriously, how much attention does METRO give to maintaining the AC systems of rail cars, and maintaining a safe environment for their "valued customers"?
Now, I'll step off my soap-box and state the facts . . . .
Yesterday (6/24) I rode the orange line train from Rosslyn to Vienna (arriving Vienna approx 4:55 p m). It was HOT inside the car. I'm thankful the weather condidtions were such that it was overcast outside, otherwise the sun would have heated the car up to likely unbearable levels.
The Car was #5002.
Based on that number, isn't this a newer car? Are these cars breaking down that rapidly?????? The appears to be a potential major safety issue - if folks begin fainting on cars, things get dicey.
I suppose Metro might respond to this that I had the freedom to get off the car and use another. As it is, the orange line is crowded, and I get on where I can. There aren't many options other than to grin and bear the heat in the crowded "Vienna Car" (so called as it's crowded from Rosslyn all the way to Vienna.)
from my experience with the 5000 series they appear to have a threshold of just above 90 degrees before they start to fail. my opinion is they are an inferior hvac system plain and simple. and since the 4000 series are not on the line presently they do not have enough trains to meet an average rush hour requirement. so they are not taking them off of the lines, but reblocking them to a different identification and sending them right back down the line.i am seeing the same bad cars at the beginning of my shift and at the end of the shift. i am seeing and i am reporting as many as 4 and 5 of 6 cars that are hot cars. first we were told we could isolate up to two cars on a consist for hot cars. now they are telling us that if the train is not cooling at all to isolate ,no matter how many are already isolated. so if the temps do not suside in the near future be prepared to see as many as half the cars in a single consist to possibly be isolated.
and you mention safety hazard. i agree. if a car is hot enough to isolate it and deemed unsafe for passengers then should a train operator be required to operate the same car? and he is wearing long pants and boots too. talk about unsafe!
N2
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Experienced another hot ride on metrorail yesterday (7/28) in the afternoon. I boarded the Orange line in L'Enfant Plaze and took it to Vienna, arriving Vienna at about 5:10 pm.
Unfortunately, I did not get the number off the rail car (the heat 'fogged' my mind), but recall it was a 5000 series, the last car on the train. There were a couple 1000 series nearer the middle of the train.
Peruser