The Future of Metro Flooring
This morning Metro invited the media to come take a look at four different models of non-carpeted flooring options the agency will begin testing on its rail cars. Metro General Manager John Catoe has made it a priority to get rid of carpeting on the system's rail cars.
“Non-carpet floors are easier, less expensive and more environmentally friendly to maintain," Catoe said. "They also don’t have a moldy smell that some carpeted rail cars have after getting wet, and it is stain resistant.”
Metro began testing nora brand rubber gray floors in the train operator cabs on two of its 6000 series rail cars in November. Now the agency is testing other styles in three other rail cars: two are other versions of the rubber nora floor surfaces, one that is black with gray and white flecks and another that is gray with black and gray flecks, and a third with a floor called Abrastop, which is a gray and white speckled floor composed of quartz composite. According to Metro, Abrastop is used in Orlando’s Monorail trains and in various other train systems in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The nora flooring is used in some MARC and VRE trains, and rail systems in Miami, Chicago and Seattle and Canada.
It currently costs Metro $5,200 to replace carpet in each Metrorail car, which need to be replaced about every five years. The new floors would cost about $250 more to install than carpeting, but would only need to be replaced about every 25 years.
WTOP says Catoe told them he prefers the black rubber floor with gray and white specks. Which one do you like?