WMATA unveils interior design for future Series 8000 metro trains

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has revealed the interior design for its upcoming Series 8000 metro trains. The Series 8000 trains are planned to be launched in 2026, according to the railway journal Railway Supply, citing Rollingstock.

These trains will feature spaces for bicycles and wheelchairs, heated floors, and an open transition between two cars.

With an improved seating arrangement, the passenger capacity of each train car will increase from 191 to 222 people, although the number of seated spaces will be reduced from 130 to 110.

For the first time, the train bodies in the Washington Metro will be made of aluminum.

According to WMATA’s estimates, this change will save $10 million in electricity costs per train car over its lifespan.

A contract for the delivery of 256 train cars, with the potential to expand to 800 cars, was signed in 2021. The train assembly will take place at a new facility in the state of Maryland. The first cars are expected to be delivered to WMATA in 2025.

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