Some Metrorail riders may notice plush fabric with whirled rainbow colors in place of the usual orange or red vinyl seats.
Their railcar may seem brighter under the glow of light-emitting diodes instead of the yellowish pall produced by fluorescent bulbs. And they may see vinyl flooring replacing the usual patterned carpet.
The new features are in the transit system’s test cars, a string of railcars replete with cameras to watch how riders react to the new designs.
Metro began testing the proposed lighting system and five new fabrics for its cushioned seats Tuesday, rolling out the test cars to run across the system for six months. Metro already has been trying out the vinyl flooring and spring-loaded overhead handles.
The transit agency is eyeing the LED lights because they last twice as long as the existing fluorescent lights, according to Metro officials.
They also don’t contain mercury like fluorescents that require special disposal, said Assistant General Manager for Metrorail Dave Kubicek.
Meanwhile, the proposed seat fabric marks a big change from Metro’s classic Naugahyde covers. In 1976, the fleet was outfitted in brown and orange vinyl. In 2001, Metro introduced new colors, including red and blue, yet kept the slick style.
But now Metro is considering switching material for its next generation of railcars as the vinyl seat covers become harder to find, Kubicek said.
The wool-blend fabric is also more breathable and would cost $15 per seat cover, $5 less than the vinyl, said Michael Hiller, Metro’s chief engineer for rail operations.
The new fabric options include a red or blue dot pattern, blue squares and two patterned fabrics with bright rainbow colors. They all offer a bright sheen and fuzzy texture, but lack the geographically appropriate names of the existing palette, “Potomac blue,” “Chesapeake sand” and “Colonial burgundy.”
Justin Patterson, 25, a Justice Department analyst, said he didn’t like the blue hue of his seat Tuesday. But it seemed better than the multicolored patterns on another test seat, which he said “reminds me of a bowling alley.”
Still, what remains to be seen is how the fabrics wear over time. Which of the Kevlar-backed, flame-retardant patterns will stave off the vagaries of gum-chewers, graffiti artists, sweat-soaked tourists and rain-slicked commuters?
“Certain patterns hide dirt better, I learned that at home,” said Metro Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman, who checked out the new seats Tuesday.
But he said even that may be the wrong question.
“Everyone focuses on the color, the pattern,” Zimmerman said. “And the biggest change to me is the move from vinyl to fabric.”
