Metro: Here and Now

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[@sammencia7945]

I used this short stretch from RI Ave to Dupont Circle to get to The Clash show in Feb 1979. They didn't expand the system to a usable size until 1983 or so. Then it could get you around. 1979 not so much. Massive holes all over the city to dig these tunnels made a mess for all the 70s and early 80s.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

The classic "M" logo on the WMATA is historic.. Its been the logo since the metro opened

[@fiuchris]

i love the man pushing the woman in wheel chair while on on an escalator at 13:08.

[@tam8035]

13:08 i couldnt click urs

[@bjdon99]

The Sideburns on the driver at 7:51 are righteous

[@NorthSea_1981]

Classic 70s

[@welchmadness]

It's interesting to see the escalators actually working.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

Haha so funny just shut up ppl like you complain all the damn time get your fat a$$ up and walk if they dont work

[@MugginsTecmoStars]

"no long waits" LOL

[@CRFProductions2023]

MugginsTecmoStars mmhmm 😂😂😂

[@MaybachMark]

🗣LMAO🤣😂😂😂

[@cfoster81]

Except for "Schedule Adjustment" i.e. the train was early and has to hold for a few minutes

[@btindc]

This should be renamed: Metro: The Groovy Way to Ride.

[@ndorsey1969able]

😂😂😂

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

YES! 🤣

[@officialblasianshizzle3943]

My grandfather constructed a handful of underground stations in the early seventies.

[@iampandaRB]

whos watching this in 2021!

[@kjrehberg]

Some fun things to know and tell. The system is not an antique and a LOT has changed since this video. The original 1976 cars built by Rohr had buzzy DC motors and were rebuilt with the sing-song AC propulsion motors in 1996 but these are only 290 out of 1,130 total cars. You don't need to replace cars that have good frames--the original Rohr and the original Breda cars are the exceptions to this, of course. Most of those elevators you think are "out of service" are actually turned off during rush hour to prevent people from being pushed onto the tracks. Most lines have been using eight-car trains since the early 2000s. It required power upgrades to most substations within the District and computer upgrades on the trains and at master control to avoid over- and under-running the platforms. A six-car train doesn't matter, but an eight-car train overrun is a problem. The new Silver Line's power system specifications were downgraded to save money--it can't run as many eight-car trains as closely as originally designed. The rails are 6mm closer than standard gauge supposedly to make a more comfortable ride. Metro was originally built with little to no provision for riders with disabilities. A costly lawsuit delayed opening Metro until the stations could be retrofitted for them and the MetroAccess ambulatory service was added. Next time look for the awkward location of most of the elevators--especially within the District.

[@DJVSzoneoutmix]

+Kris Rehberg Did WMATA actually run two-car trains in revenue service, or is the footage showing two-car trains showing test runs?

[@kjrehberg]

DJVSzoneoutmix I believe they were staged for publicity videos and/or test runs.

[@richardbrownjr2815]

+DJVSzoneoutmix Metro did run two-car trains on Sundays on the Blue and Orange Line for a while--in the '90's I think, since Sunday ridership was low on those lines at one point.

[@ItsWAWGaming]

@@richardbrownjr2815 that would explain why i've never been on a 7000 on blue once

[@tmowbray77]

TimW42 I rode a 7000 on blue line just this past Sunday

[@LVTR-kr3rz]

Rohrs looked so shiny back in the days.

[@KevinMeno2008]

WMATA 1000-1001 will be preserved; 8000-8005 is the money train but will also be retired and replaced with Alstom 6182-6183, and also because the 8000-series numbers will be used for a future Metrorail car order

[@kct1975]

I have actually seen the WMATA Money Train a few times....especially at the Foggy Bottom station!

[@whereisthedollar]

aw, when Metro was new and and all was right with the world.

[@coolwhip455]

"Just train after train moving people" Except for single tracking, smoke, safe track, derailments, power failures, flooding, broken escalators, broken elevators, random closing times, and so on.

[@CRFProductions2023]

coolwhip455 sick passenger stops as well

[@FingersKungfu]

And where trains suddenly become broken/out of service in the middle of a ride.

[@NorthSea_1981]

What is it with this seemingly general inability of US cities to built and especially *maintain* public transport? Lack of funding? Political disinterest? Bad organization? Washington Metro is (was?) one of the nicest and most modern subway systems on the entire North American continent, second only perhaps to Montreal's Metro. Why and how did this deterioration in Washington DC happen?

[@patrickgardiner4071]

NorthSea 1981, basically metro built a beautiful system in the 70’s and then ignored the new system until it wasn’t new, because the whole system was built at once, the whole system needed to be replaced at once, and so for the past 10 years or so, the transit agency has been trying to fix and replace the thousands of cars, hundreds of miles of track and outdated sensors for automatic travel. I should add that metro is trying their best with Safetrack and Rush Hour Policy, however during this period of time it’s just difficult to get around the construction and delays

[@owly6204]

@@patrickgardiner4071 It's getting smoother now. Still got a long way to go, but at lot smoother then about 5-6 years ago.

[@libertyann439]

I love Metro. I first came to the DC area in 1978 when only the red line was up. More Metro, fewer cars!!

[@S-CB-SL-Animations]

Me too! I'm a Metro Enthusiast!

[@iron1349]

this video is ooozes 1970's

[@khalifmathiskm]

This is the cutest thing

[@bjdon99]

It's like the opening of the old NFL Today on CBS with Irv Cross and Jimmy the Greek

[@PaulGreen11]

And when the Redskins are playing that day.

[@FingersKungfu]

Was America a better place 40 years ago. I got a feeling that it was.

[@Mathew8980]

Of course, today there's no "peace" in our government system; there's now endless fighting!

[@TheOzzyMartin1]

@@Mathew8980 as opposed to the Vietnam war, watergate, assassinations, segregation, random bombing, rapidly climbing violent crime. We’ve improved somewhat, it’s a matter of perspective. We still have work to do, we will never stop improving, that’s the fight.

[@Mathew8980]

@@TheOzzyMartin1 Technology has improved, but the government is dividing us now. It's a matter of love and hate!

[@TheOzzyMartin1]

@@Mathew8980 segregation was literally a thing

[@TheMusicalElitist]

OK boomer.

[@SandBoxJohn]

I have been waiting years for to be posted. It appears to be a different cut from the version that was produced and released by WMATA before the first segment opened. The film was shot in the spring of 1975 shorty after the first of the 1k cars arrived on the property. The seens in the stations were shot over two separate weekends. Rhode Island Avenue on the first, Metro Center on the second. The surface entrance escalator seen was shot on a weekday at Judiciary Square F street entrance.

[@RohrDC]

How could it have possibly been shot in 1975 if the narrator mentions its opening in 1976?

[@SandBoxJohn]

@@RohrDC It took several months for the manufacture of the real cars to produce enough cars to open the first segment of the rail line. If memory serves cars were delivered in pairs from the manufacture every 15 days. After taking delivery of the rail cars, several months was spent testing and certifying rail cars as well as all of the systems that supported their operation. The testing and certification of the rail cars and the systems that support their operations were in there early stages at the time of the film was being shot

[@dreamyyx_3762]

Back when the 1000 series was cute and shiny

[@grapesofwraith1066]

While Metro may not be the greatest now, looking at the aesthetics of New York's trains (and cramped tunnels) in the 1950s and 60s gives a bit of appreciation for the groovy and "modern" 70s feel of Metro. NYC ELS & SUBWAYS 1950'S & 1960'S MOVIE FOOTAGE.

[@NorthSea_1981]

I think NYC's subway system was chronically underfunded for decades and not well-maintained at all which led to it being one of the dirtiest and ugliest subway systems in the world. That cool sleek retrofuturistic 70s chic in Washington DC actually does look really awesome, almost timeless in regards to station architecture.

[@charlessutherland7619]

Back in the days when Metro could get you to work on time for a fair price. Gosh, those sure were the days, weren't they?

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Charles Sutherland You can still get to work on time for a fair price today.

[@ItsWAWGaming]

@@TheRailLeaguer Just wait for sick passenger stops and single tracking

[@TheRailLeaguer]

@@ItsWAWGaming Really? Those things are rare nowadays, and you can still get to work on time today.

[@RockvilleTrainFan]

wow 1976!

[@squidpants]

thank you for this.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

2:54 look at them rohrs I miss the rohrs

[@videonut1988]

And their roller signs...

[@Bombardier2199]

Red is always the main color for subways

[@cfoster81]

Some of the original names for the stations during planning were certainly different from what is today. For example, Zoological Park (Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan),and Nicholson Lane (White Flint) and of course, Union Station-Visitor Center

[@johnflowers4092]

anybody else see Hirshorn "Inaugural Exhibit" at 6:20? very cool!

[@crayon6929]

I didn't realize it had been around this long. I thought it started in the 80s ..interesting

[@CoastersNSich]

The song playing when you see the "reality" shots at 1:53 is "Cheerleader" by Keith Mansfield.

[@ThatGurlRiRi77]

Lol 😂 Born and raised in dc and it’s nothing like that now.

[@zaybx3485]

Lol don’t feel bad boo I’m from a city with a terrible ass subway system too (nyc)💯🗣🤦🏽‍♂️

[@almiightyslvmp]

@@zaybx3485 preach

[@drwgbbns]

Thank you loved it

[@theprofessor172]

Oh My God, it's the same stock music that was in that MST3K Puerto Rico video

[@fhs2004jtwwf2007]

...and the music at 7:50 is so so groovy lol

[@airish111]

Groovy!

[@CrabMan2539]

I wish the newer metros looked like this. The 7000 series lacks character and the seats are horrendously uncomfortable in comparison to the 1000-6000 series trains. The older ones may look outdated but they are far more appealing than the 7000 series (at least in my eyes). Plus it's a style the district knows so well. An icon if you will.

[@CrabMan2539]

Oh and I wish the escalator hum would come back. It's not gone entirely but it's disappearing very quickly. I know reliability was a problem but I wish they could fix that and keep the hum that signifies to anyone looking for the metro that they've found it.

[@dangeejay]

I laughed when I saw the traffic jams that Metro was supposed to help reduce. Traffic is far worse...and so is Metro service. Regular and quite lengthy escalator outages. Old trains that need to be replaced, not repaired.

[@FlandersLane]

At GLENMONT I had to wait about 10 minutes for a train to arrive and 5 minutes for it to depart!

[@nielspemberton59]

This movie should have had music by Hans Zimmer or Jean Michel Jarre !

[@PhillyFan20]

It looks like the Rohrs had a low-tech version of the FIND system on the R160s in NYC. Very cool. Anyone know if the Rohrs were "silent" like the 2000 series cars were before Alstom rehabbed them? I know they originally had DC motors prior to 1996 when they were rehabbed in Brentwood.

[@SandBoxJohn]

The strip map was on the same sign roll as the exterior destination sign. They disappeared and were replace with exterior flip dot sign because of their unreliability.

[@FlandersLane]

Oh yeah?! Metro extended cars to 8 and at Glenmom

[@CRFProductions2023]

Nice sideburns

[@oscardaone]

Nowadays we've maxed out the trains by using the full 8 cars.

[@aidancaldwell5837]

Elijah Gordon yo I dont really know you like that but I saw the trailer for your video and thought you would like this

[@jayo1212]

Ah yes, all the technical stuff and then that count down before the movie starts! But what IS all that? What are the letters that flicker for a second in the count down? What kind of film is this?

[@RobloxianX]

Does anybody know the name of the music from 3:41 to 4:41?

[@steventravels4035]

And finally, the metro is going to be opening a station at Dulles Airport

[@HELLBAG1]

Strip is a little slow. 1.25 makes it sound like he's not on valium.

[@radien239]

anywhere I can find more construction photos

[@RohrDC]

google

[@mrbobbell]

The off-screen narrator is Baltimore's famous V.O. king, Lary Lewman.

[@smooooth_]

Did the trains used to move slower?

[@smooooth_]

markatl84 I'm guessing maybe when Metro first started operating there weren't as many people using it, and it was still new, so the drivers were more laid back, but nowadays its crowded and everyone is rushing, including the driver

[@ibrahimjalloh5300]

Since The 1000 Series Started it All The DC Metro So Which Station p

[@knndyskful]

@2:00 musta been a Sunday with those people dressed so nice

[@RohrDC]

I love Rohrs.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

If it wasnt for the 1000 series there wouldnt be an 2000-7000 series or any other series..

[@sashaweeds6318]

If metro went in the wrong direction for the wrong model there wouldn’t be no Breda or Kawasaki trains in DC

[@FunkSwaggMusiK]

8:50 that has to be Silver Spring Station

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Could be Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood. Silver Spring didn’t open until 1978

[@stevengower]

Hey even the Amish use it!! Or maybe that was just a 70s style IDK I'm a 90s baby.

[@dsindc]

OK ... just a suggestion, but can we get a real suburban commuter system up and running? If you look at Boston, Philly, and NJ (Transit,) they have excellent suburban systems. To have a metro going out to Dulles is insane. It will take forever. One of Metro's many problems is that it's trying to be too many things. Urban rail, and suburban rail at the same time. It's doomed to do a mediocre job at both.

[@airish111]

"cushioned" rails?

[@SandBoxJohn]

Direct fixation rail fasteners. Steel and rubber sandwich with the rubber being the meat in the sandwich. Widely used around the world today.

[@adaml6226]

Do you know what year this was published?

[@SandBoxJohn]

Sometime in 1979. The original cut was released 1975 before the first segment opened on 03 27 1976.

[@mcganahanskjellyfetti7722]

John Cambron And yet at 4:54 the video seems to mention Wheaton Station ... “Wheaton to Stadium Armory 32 minutes” Wheaton Station didn’t open until 1990. Odd.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

I think the man was talking about Metrobus. Metrobus started in 1975 a year before Metrorail opened

[@thomsen256]

Yeah and the regional population has like doubled since Metro was opened so it's not really a surprise.

[@dlandon1698]

People walked differently back then.

[@fhs2004jtwwf2007]

The dude at 8:40 drives the Shaft train.

[@tionstav5799]

Ahh yes backwood Metro was actually cared for.

[@dreamyyx_3762]

Ahh yes back when ppl like you didnt complain about metro all the time

[@TheRailLeaguer]

Tionstav They still care.

[@jayo1212]

Metro was never not cared for.

[@blslegal]

The result of poor maintenance is what we have today. That's the one thing they forgot to include in this infomercial.

[@glebsokolov8016]

blslegal Still much better than that shit in NYC

[@mvg2x34]

Were 2 car trains really a thing?

[@prdawg215]

Check out the hot mama at 9:55 to 10:05. The camera man followed her out of the train.

[@SandBoxJohn]

That young lady was Cody Phanstiehl's secretary. Cody Phanstiehl was then Director of the Office Community Service at WMATA.

[@escada182]

The video states it's suppose to minimize traffic jams and longer wait. Total deceitful. Sometimes I find myself waiting for the train more than 30 mins. And they still jacked up the fare. I'm just baffled about this video.

[@NorthSea_1981]

And I'm baffled by the fact that the US capital city of Washington DC is doing such a poor job maintaining its Metro system. It's actually one of the nicest and most modern and well-designed subway systems in the entire North American continent. I was shocked to find out that it had so many accidents, frequent delays, and other issues.

[@zulvertho]

Mono-doh!

[@rockvilleraven]

Metro is useless on the weekend with their closed stations-shuttle bus, busted escalators and single tracking. Alternatives to Metro are DC Circulator, Capital Bikeshare, Uber DC and various parking lots and garages. Its possible to live without Metro on the weekends.

[@TheRailLeaguer]

rockvilleraven Really?

[@PositionLight]

They are no Budd, but better something made in America than made in Italy or Spain.

[@babyboi14]

Why is there no change it’s 2020

[@TheRailLeaguer]

There’s been change. Tysons and Reston got train service in the form of the Silver Line, easing congestion at East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna. New train cars have replaced older cars as well.

[@oscardaone]

At least until they fix the system, but we'll be dead when they do anyway.

[@oscardaone]

You mean quadrupled in the last few decades.

[@AndLove937]

Same train are in use today 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@safuu202]

Huh?? All the 1000 series cars shown in this video had already been taken offline by 2017 lol.

[@garygee34]

they still use the same trains lol

[@videonut1988]

Only the 3K, 6Ks still got the same look as the 1Ks

[@libertyann439]

People left their jammies at home and dressed like human beings!

[@smtpgirl]

single cars? now there are 12-15 cars during rush hour at Metro Center and Union Station stops (Red Line). And the urine smell from the Farragut North and Farragut West stations is immeasurable. Hey Jim Hacker....BAAAAAHHHHAAAAHHHAA

[@TheRailLeaguer]

All trains on WMATA are at 6-8 cars, though after Van Dorn Street (Blue; originally Yellow) and L’Enfant Plaza to Anacostia (Green) opened in 1991, they ran two car trains on the Green Line during slow periods.

[@davinp]

Unfortunately, Metro is still using those same antique 1000 series cars today, which they should have retired years ago

[@glebsokolov8016]

Davin Peterson Those ugly silver cars should have been replaced I agree

[@CRFProductions2023]

They're gone now

[@ItsWAWGaming]

1000 series are nostalgic tho, History Folks, History.

[@sashaweeds6318]

7000 series will be the same way near there 40 years old and maybe in a bad accident like the 1000 series

[@dreamyyx_3762]

Our 1000 series cars are not ugly there'll BOOTFUL!!!! ):

[@KevinMeno2008]

The Rohrs are being retired by WMATA, with 7000s Kawasaki replacing them

[@inachu]

Starting to think the employees there are a joke. Soon I think everyone there will be from India. They have a blatant uppity attitude(I'm better than you) when dealing with them on any level. Also I still see they have not fired the old white guy who makes fun of asians at the white flint metro as they walk by him

[@JORGELOPEz-ei1xw]

Now people don’t care about paying the fare

[@charlesfrancis7878]

This short video clip is a joke. The metro system was brand new back then so it was nothing to complain about as much. 40 years later our DC metro system is complete trash. You can't depend on metro for anything anymore. Not even to get to work on time. New York City's metro is one of the oldest and it never seems to have any problems with it. Our metro system has been running for over 40 years and it's a problem every single day every single week with it. Our DC metro system is just complete trash👎🏻