[2] Also, at 40 inches (1,016 mm) above top of rail,[2] the floor height of the cars is lower than that of most other East Coast mass transit systems, including New York City, Boston[3] and Philadelphia.

[26] On November 29, 2009, a collision occurred between two out-of-service trains at the Falls Church rail yard in Fairfax County, Virginia.

[41][42][43][44] Around August 2008, Metrorail tested new overhead handles of different styles on 3034, 3035, 3094, 3095 as well as some 1000-series cars to gauge public opinion.

The interior was redesigned to allow for additional standing room (mostly around the center doors) and easier access to all portions of the car.

These are similar to what was used on the Rohr cars, and the current rehabilitated Bredas, indicating when the train is in the final stages of stopping.

[48] The first 6000-series set was placed into service on Tuesday, October 3, 2006, at 11:30 am on its inaugural trip on the Green Line from Greenbelt to Branch Avenue.

[67] In April 2013, WMATA moved forward with plans to order 528 railcars from Kawasaki, called the 7000-series, to replace the 1000-series cars and to provide service for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, otherwise known as the Silver Line.

[77] Inside, seats would be taller and more ergonomically designed, carpeting would be replaced with a resilient floor covering,[77] the grab bars along the ceiling would contain spring-loaded handles,[78] and the cars would contain security cameras, automated announcements, as well as LCD displays to provide train information.

[82] Under the contract, Metro originally agreed to purchase 428 7000-series railcars, both to replace its 1000-series cars and provide service for the new Silver Line.

[84] In November 2013, it was reported that the first four cars would arrive before the end of 2013 and that they would then be tested for 30 weeks, allowing Metro to troubleshoot any issues before full production begins.

The set underwent acceptance testing for at least eight months in order to finalize design specs and work out any problems.

[94] On December 12, 2016, a Shady Grove-bound Red Line train separated with passengers on board when leaving Twinbrook, railcars 7135 and 7219 being the cars to pull apart.

On December 31, 2016, a Washington Post article reported that some residents in DC's Petworth neighborhood were noticing increased noise and vibration levels attributed to the heavier, steel-bodied 7000-series trains.

According to the article, Metro engineers conducted initial field tests and noted only "negligible vibration levels."

"[95] A March 3, 2017, report from WAMU noted that some residents in North Michigan Park and Southwest Waterfront were also experiencing increased noise and vibrations since the 7000-series trains entered service on the Green Line.

The same WAMU report stated that Metro has hired the California-based company Wilson Ihrig to conduct "field testing in selected homes.

This was intended as a temporary measure to aid the disabled because the types of barriers that separated the 7000-series cars posed safety risks for the blind.

[106] In December 2021, Metro presented early plans at a board meeting for gradual reintegration of the unaffected 7000-series railcars, pending NTSB approval.

[107] Also in December, four U.S. senators wrote to Metro requesting full details of actions taken regarding the wheel alignment issues and the cost incurred.

They would then pause for 90 days without further release of additional cars until all aspects of the new inspection cycles are fully established and any needed adjustments are made under the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission oversight.

[112] On January 12, 2022, WMATA announced 7000-series trains would remain out of passenger service for about 90 days (estimated April 2022) to allow engineering and mechanical experts time to focus on the root cause of the derailment and acquire new technology to measure 7000-series wheelsets.

[120] In January 2023, WMATA announced they were cleared to begin Phase 3 of its Return to Service plan where cars will be inspected every week instead of every four days.

[127][128] In February 2023, WMATA decided to re-evaluate the open gangway design for potential improvements in accessibility and capacity.

[129][130] In April 2023, WMATA released concept renderings that show an open gangway between two cars and longitudinal seating on one side with designated spaces for strollers, luggage, and bikes.

Around August 2008, Metrorail tested new overhead handles of different styles on 1122, 1123, 1126, 1127, as well as some 3000-series cars to gauge public opinion.

[141] Metro announced on June 7, 2017, that the 1000-series cars would be fully retired and removed from service on July 1, 2017, after running for 41 years.

[141] On November 17, 2016, Metro discovered a glitch in which a 4000-series car would display an incorrect speed limit to a train operator while in manual mode.

Metro announced that they would discontinue using 4000-series railcars in lead positions and considered accelerating the retirement of the cars to late 2017 or possibly earlier.

[10] The fifth order consisted of 192 rail cars from a joint venture of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain and AAI Corporation of Hunt Valley, Maryland.

The contract consisted of CAF engineering, designing the cars, and managing the project, while AAI performed assembly.