WASHINGTON – In a video posted July 3, Metro shows off one of its 7000-series rail cars running on a track at a production factory. It’s a display Metro hopes will generate goodwill for its plan to update its rail car system.

The first fleet of the new cars are expected to arrive in early 2014, and will eventually replace the 1000-series cars that were built in the 1970s.

“The introduction of these new cars will allow us to address another NTSB recommendation and remove all 1000-series cars from service, increasing the overall safety and reliability of the system,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles.

The move also satisfies a 2006 National Transportation Safety Board recommendation to retrofit or replace the 1000-series cars.

Metro says the 7000-series cars will only run while linked together.

The next-generation car project cost $1.5 billion.

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