Metro Tests New Hues for More Colorful Commute - Washington Post
Wednesday, December 10, 2008; B02
Tired of those orange and brown seats on older Metro trains? Confused by the blue, burgundy and yellow seats on newer trains? Metro is putting even more colors and fabrics into the mix. For the next six months, the agency will be testing five different wool fabric seats in some new rail cars. Two designs are blue, one is red, one is gray with colored swirls, and one is blue with a balls and seals design.
Based on rider feedback, durability and ease of cleaning of the stain-resistant, vandal-resistant fabric, the transit agency will pick one to go in the next generation of rail cars, starting with those slated for the Dulles (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Washington+Dulles+International+Airport?tid=informline) extension. (But it will be at least five years before those cars roll onto the tracks.)
Eventually, Metro rail chief Dave Kubicek (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Dave+Kubicek?tid=informline) hopes to have one standard color for the entire fleet.
Since Metrorail's inception in 1976, the cushions have been orange and brown naugahyde. In 2001, after color experts weighed in, the Metro board chose three colors (one for each jurisdiction), for newer trains: Potomac blue, Chesapeake sand and Colonial burgundy.
Kubicek says Metro can save money on maintenance by switching to one standard cushion.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902796.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902796.html)
I dont know qhy peopple hate them they look nice (exept the red one)
Metro test new wool rail car seat covers bad idea or good?
I think its a bad idea because what if someone pees there the whole car would smell pee and what if someone smells realy bad you would smell it lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySqB0zeszsw
I just don't understand why they are changing it now...Vinyl has worked well for the past 30+ years.
Wool would wear out rather quickly with the high amount of useage this subway has. Besides, the 7000 series cars won't even have this kind of seat.
Quote from: Tritransit Area on December 13, 2008, 12:45:02 PM
I just don't understand why they are changing it now...Vinyl has worked well for the past 30+ years.
Wool would wear out rather quickly with the high amount of useage this subway has. Besides, the 7000 series cars won't even have this kind of seat.
The current materials are becoming harder to get to the point WMATA wants to consider something else to save money down the road.
There are a couple things I'm worried about. Stanky people who have personal hygiene problems and rainy weather. If they do go with this approach, I hope they steam clean them because it'll suck to have to smell wet dog first thing Monday morning.
I have to ride a train with these seats just to see how they are. Hopefully, they are better than those plastic nuga-whatever seats. They remind me of NJTs Comet seats.
I heard 6026 and 6027 have these new seats. I wonder what others have them as well. I just hope that eventually, they won't smell bad from all those people in the train.
Quote from: NewFlyer97BCT on December 14, 2008, 09:55:05 AM
I heard 6026 and 6027 have these new seats. I wonder what others have them as well. I just hope that eventually, they won't smell bad from all those people in the train.
Those are the only cars for now.
Nice seats, but if they absorb and keep smells there for a long time then we have a problem. Nonetheless, the seats are AWESOME!!