WMATA’s 7000-Series Car – The Leap Forward

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) rapid transit system has served the Nation’s Capital and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia since 1976. Since opening day, WMATA has procured six major car fleets. While each fleet has incorporated technological improvements over its predecessor, there is still a high level of technical commonality shared by all car designs. The 7000-Series cars were conceived as a Leap Forward. The technical development process and available technologies have been evaluated and applied without constraints imposed by existing WMATA car designs. The goal is a “perfect car”. This paper discusses three broad aspects of the Leap Forward. First, the design development process included innovative and rigorous requirements for up-front testing, hard mock-up, and design verification. Second, the structural design of the car includes crash energy management features, which were subject to a full-scale crash test of the crush zone. Finally, the electrical technology includes advanced networking design, train-to-wayside interfaces, and passenger amenities. As of this writing, the first of the 7000-Series cars have been constructed and are under test at the carbuilder’s facility. WMATA anxiously awaits delivery of the 7000-Series fleet so that the promised benefits of the Leap Forward can be realized.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.apta.com/mc/rail/previous/2013/papers/Papers/DietzJ-OgunrindeG-ReynoldsJ-WoodburyC-WMATA%E2%80%99s-7000-Series-Car%E2%80%93The-Leap-Forward.pdf
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract used with permission from American Public Transportation Association.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Public Transportation Association

  1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Reynolds, Joseph E
  • Ogunrinde, Gbadebo
  • Woodbury, Clifford A
  • Dietz, James H
  • Chance, Ernest E
• Conference:
  • 2013 Rail Conference
  • Location: Philadelphia PA, United States
  • Date: 2013-6-2 to 2013-6-5
• Publication Date: 2013

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: 2013 Rail Conference

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Rapid transit cars; Technological innovations; Vehicle design; Vehicle tests
• Identifier Terms: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01502558
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 26 2013 3:10PM