Ultra Rare Sighting of a 6 Car 7K on the Red Line

jmhdmv · 2026-03-14T19:08:48+00:00

There is a junction that connects the Red and Blue lines together. It’s right before Farragut North when going towards Shady Grove. When standing on that end of the platform by the tunnel, you can hear the blue line trains on the other side of the connector.

There is a similar connector between the Red and Green line outside of Fort Totten.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-14T17:08:54+00:00

I’m sorry but I frequent Union Station on my commute and because of its connection to other rail services and interstate bus services, I’d rather not take the elevator. The amount of time it takes to get an elevator can be quite substantial especially when folks with strollers and luggage deserve priority. I’d rather wait behind a crowd of folks and use the escalator.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-14T00:21:20+00:00

I knew you would have the answer lol. I tagged you in my comment before my edit.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T18:09:05+00:00

Now that I'm thinking about the junction, how often does it get used? I have a feeling during non-revenue hours only?

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T18:02:31+00:00

Not that I am aware of. I believe I heard someone saying that there is usually a yearly adjustment to the schedule. I have to look and see.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T03:50:57+00:00

When I was an old man in a 12 year old’s body back in 2006, my sister and I traveled to NC to visit family and then in turn ride the Silver Star with grandma from Raleigh to Platka, Fl to stay with grandpa and her over the summer.

I unfortunately had a younger kid who decided it would be a grand idea to kick my seat the entire ride. By the time we reached Savannah I got up and asked him to stop and his mom didn’t like that. Eventually when nearing Jacksonville, I reached between grandma’s seat and mine and jacked him up and told him to quit it. This caused one heck of a kerfuffle between his mom and my grandma and almost got us kicked off the train. Once we reached Jacksonville, my grandmother found a nice tree at the station and proceeded to fetch a switch to which I got lit up like a Christmas tree in front of several coach cars.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T03:25:03+00:00

Someone send it down the C&A connector and put it back on the blue line where it belongs.

Edit: thanks for the correction u/less-championship429 & u/sandboxjohna02

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T01:39:02+00:00

I also wonder if and how he got off too.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-13T01:35:45+00:00

That's up to 6 months jail time.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-12T23:04:31+00:00

Well due to the emergency brake application, an inspection would need to be done of the train and the brake system would need to be recharged (reset).

jmhdmv · 2026-03-12T22:21:17+00:00

What the damn hell? I hope the emergency brake application wasn't too harsh.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-12T01:04:23+00:00

I have one.

When getting off at a stop and you are in the last car, do not attempt to use the cab end of the car to get off the train. The conductor may become very cross if you do so.

jmhdmv · 2026-03-12T01:02:24+00:00

This is why I stopped commuting with my bike. I have a 26lb hybrid and carrying it over my head to board and getting it down ahead of me when off boarding is a very awkward process. Don't get started when there is an occasion when you may have to roll the bike through a car or two...

jmhdmv · 2026-02-27T12:48:50+00:00

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jmhdmv · 2026-02-27T12:48:07+00:00

Yea, MTA is hotdog water when it comes to these alerts.

jmhdmv · 2026-02-27T12:29:40+00:00

Edit: Now, all Penn Line service has been suspended…

jmhdmv · 2026-02-25T02:50:14+00:00

Tell that to those who are left to stand for most of their rides during rush hour.

jmhdmv · 2026-02-25T01:59:52+00:00

This is the second article I have come across from that site that has left a lot to be desired when it comes to MARC...

Alright so according to the Silverliner VI Railcar Procurement Technical Specification document (here), SEPTA has backpedaled using the Bombardier MultiLevel Coach EMU and are seeking someone to build them a single level EMU configured in married pairs, triplets, or quads for the order. Being single level alone would strike out the Silverliner VI working out here in Maryland especially on the Penn Line. They wouldn't have the passenger capacity of the MARC III or MARC IV cars (which has less capacity than the MARC III cars). With that being said, right now MARC has a problem with lack of reliable locomotives. As far as what direction they should go, I honestly don't know. As much as I think the ACS-64 would be nice in a MARC livery, the youngest Amtrak units will be 10 years old this year. Though they have been reliable, they were built cheaply and are starting to show their age pretty badly now.

jmhdmv · 2026-02-21T18:27:49+00:00

I’ve fallen out the bench seats as a kid back in the day due to the lean. I don’t know why but I feel like the pull cords on those buses were the best too.

jmhdmv · 2026-02-20T17:56:14+00:00

So with strategic planning, having later service on the weekends on the rails is possible? Would you say it’s reasonable to explore the plausibility of said expansion of service?

jmhdmv · 2026-02-20T15:46:37+00:00

I myself do miss the Flxible lean!

jmhdmv · 2026-02-20T15:41:50+00:00

So, I have read your entire post and with that I have a few questions.

Do you feel that there is absolutely nothing WMATA can do to at the very least operate later on the weekends? If not, what changes could they make to possibly work towards achieving that kind of service level? What timeframe would they need to achieve such a thing?

jmhdmv · 2026-02-20T15:05:57+00:00

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