Faulty Wiring Needs to be Replaced on All of D.C. Metro's New Subway Cars

The WMATA's Quality Assurance, Internal Compliance & Oversight office delivered bad news to the beleaguered transit service.

1 minute read

August 12, 2018, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


7000-Series Train

brownpau / Flickr

"[D.C.] Metro must replace faulty wiring on every single one of its new 7000 Series rail cars in a process that could take a year or longer," reports Max Smith.

That news comes from a recently completed internal review of the WMATA's rail car manufacturing program. Metro has placed 548 of the cars into service since 2012, all of which will need to be taken out of service to have wiring replaced. "The agency expects to receive the last of the 748 cars on order by next summer to replace older cars, although the wiring issues and other problems have delayed deliveries recently," according to Smith.

"Besides the wiring issue, the review found that in May 2016, cars arrived at Metro with an average of 22 issues that needed to be addressed," adds Smith.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 in WTOP

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

April 15 - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

April 15 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

April 15 - NBC Dallas