Washington Post story (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/metro-to-replace-troubled-rail-cars-with-new-ones/2013/04/08/37ed97b0-a068-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_story.html?hpid=z4)
That's dumb! These cars are only about 20-21 years old! They should replace the 2000s instead.
The 2000s have been rehabbed about 10 years ago, which basically gives them another 20 or so years of life, plus there's not very many issues with them compared to something like the 1000s aging or the 5000s with several brake problems. To get rid of those is dumb.
I'm sure that WMATA could have upgraded the 4000s and make them compatible with the 7000s (which they were going to do) if they wanted to.
They could have but clearly decided it wasn't the best option. I think they made the right call here.
So much for the 8000s that were coming up a few years after the 7000s....
I hope the 4000's find new duties after revenue such as the money train.
I wouldn't be surprised if the 8000s used for the Money Train today were retired along with the rest of their 1000 series bretheren.
WMATA could use some of the best 4000s as work service trains.