What's metro like these days?

[Anonymous]

Masking is not common but that’s basically the case in most places in DC.
Gotta check the next train times well before you leave to ensure you aren’t waiting around for 10+ min and will get you there on time. Gone are the days when you just showed up during rush hour. We always check the metro app before leaving home.
I think there are more “sketchy” people on the train during rush hour than before COVID, but such is the nature of public transit and fewer ppl being in the cars. If you’re not comfortable, change cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The orange/silver/blue lines are still running 20+ minutes apart, which is annoying. Parking at Vienna or WFC is plentiful. Masks are about 75 wearing/25 not in the AM and 40/60 PM. I always get a seat in the morning and get a seat immediately half of the time coming home.

I have not yet run into any cars without appropriate climate control - usually I get on a car with the heat on in August at least a couple of times per year. Feel like I missed out on the full metro summer experience this year.

They are not running many of the 7000 series, I think those are only running on red right now.

If you are looking for a luxury transportation experience, public transit is not for you. The floors will often be sticky, cars have trash in them, and it's a crapshoot on whether the train intercom is understandable. Part of this is WMATA, part of it is inconsiderate riders who don't follow the no-food/drink and pick up after yourself rules. Mass transit is also open to all other people, including those who are homeless, so, if you're too precious for that, stick with your car.

NP but I'd just like some basic service back, including more frequent trains and 8-car trains. Clearly DC doesn't care about Covid AT ALL anymore because the trains are packed to the point that people cannot easily get on/off during rush hour. I had to wait an extra 12 minutes to get on the red line at union station today because the 6-train rolled into the station full and hardly anyone got off in comparison to the number of riders waiting to get on. Blue/orange/silver is worse with 20 minutes between trains. WTF is this taking Metro so long to resolve?

[Anonymous]

Metro still hasn't figured out how to go back to automatic track control since the 2009 crash so I am not optimistic they'll figure out the wheel spacing issue any time soon. There are more fare jumpers than before and the stations and trains are not as clean as they used to be, though that was getting worse even before the pandemic. Masking is a mix. Outside of rush hour, it's pretty easy to get a row to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro still hasn't figured out how to go back to automatic track control since the 2009 crash so I am not optimistic they'll figure out the wheel spacing issue any time soon. There are more fare jumpers than before and the stations and trains are not as clean as they used to be, though that was getting worse even before the pandemic. Masking is a mix. Outside of rush hour, it's pretty easy to get a row to yourself.

This. Unfortunately this is probably the new normal. However sh-t will really hit the fan if/when the older cars start failing.