MetroRiders.Org

Anonymous Rider wrote on Wed, 28 June 2006 14:29
However, the trains cleanliness wise are still below par, especially on the Red Line. Many days there are newspapers, bottles and other trash strewn about the cars. Hopefully this will improve as well.

There are fewer complaints here about things far more impacting than the cleanliness of the trains, so Metro is getting better indeed.

Anonymous Rider wrote on Wed, 28 June 2006 14:29

I do agree for the most part, myself being a frequent Metro critic. However, the trains cleanliness wise are still below par, especially on the Red Line. Many days there are newspapers, bottles and other trash strewn about the cars. Hopefully this will improve as well.

You want cleaner cars and station platforms. If you happen across some trash, pick it up and deposit it in the nearest trash receptacle. On my visit to Washington back in March I did just that in couple stations.

Anonymous Rider wrote on Tue, 16 May 2006 08:43
I haven't visited MetroRiders.org in some time, but I want to say that there is finally GOOD news. I nearly gave up on Metro. I dreaded getting on Metro. But over the past few weeks, there are visible signs of improvement. Stations and cars are cleaner, announcements are clearer (at least in the cars). And it may be my imagination, but I could swear that trains are stopping more smoothly. Escalators seem to be running more frequently. Much more frequently.

Yesterday, I had an absolutely delightful ride from DuPont Circle to Bethesda. The train operator was a woman with a lovely, clear voice. When the train stopped at Friendship Heights, she said something on the order of, "Metro hopes you had a pleasant ride. Please let us know how we can do a better job. We hope you have a wonderful day." Everyone on the car was startled, and then smiled. At the Bethesda station, since I was close to the front of the train, I ran up the platform to tell her how wonderful she was and how she'd made my day.

Most of all, Metro has stopped giving us long lists of "why nots" and has really started to look at ways to improve. From getting rid of the filthy, smelly carpets to adding straps for shorties, and replacing the side-by-side seating with bench seats (people will stop belly-aching about that when they realize how many more seats there are and when they no longer have to climb over seat mates or be climbed over), Metro is finally saying "how can we...?" Tangherlini fans of the world, unite! We have nothing to lose, and a phenomenal public transit system to regain.

I think it is time we start a letter-writing campaign to our state and federal officials to seek more and permanent funding for Metro.

Ellen

(Mostly Red Line)

I do agree for the most part, myself being a frequent Metro critic. However, the trains cleanliness wise are still below par, especially on the Red Line. Many days there are newspapers, bottles and other trash strewn about the cars. Hopefully this will improve as well.