– News from Quincy Quarry News

Adding a center row of straps would have been nice
A Quincy Quarry News exclusive image

The MBTA’s New Red Cars are nicer rides.

While out riding the rails to cover the news of the day, Quincy Quarry personnel lucked into catching a ride on one of the long-delayed new Red Line cars and thus was able to create yet another Quarry story.

On top of much shinier than the old Red Line cars even if one might miss this while sleepwalking during the morning commute, one thing most straphangers will likely notice immediately is that the new Red Line cars feature much wider doorways. 

Even better – on this day anyway, both of the doors actually worked.

Inside, however, was mixed bag. 

For example, while the new configuration does open up more room to jam even more straphangers onboard, it would have been nice if a center row of straps was provided.

Limited inside seating offering a scenic view
Image via indosurflife.com

Also, rather than the two by two seating of the old cars, the new cars feature only bench seating along the windows and so facing inward. 

As such, so much for readily enjoying the view while above ground.

On the plus side, the cars are much quieter.  At least while they are still new anyway. 

Then again, the Red Line is not called The Rattler without ample good reasons and thus quieter is relative.

At the same time, one still cannot help but suspect a possible quality control sort safety problem. 

Specifically, while there now is a “WARNING – Watch The Gap” sign posted on the inside of the doors of the new Red Line cars, it would also appear that the gap with the new cars is greater than on the old cars.

“WARNING: Watch the gap,” center in left image; the looks to now be wider gap, right image
Conjoined Quincy Quarry News exclusive images

Then again, after the JFK station train wreck several years ago, one can understand why the MBTA might have opted to trim the width of the new cars a bit as compared to the old ones.

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