: News

Filed Under:

Metro To Buy New Rail Cars

March 23, 2010
Play associated audio
comments

By David Schultz

Several hundred new rail cars could be coming to the D.C. region soon, if the Metro Board approves a plan on Thursday to purchase them.

They would be top-of-the-line 7000 series cars and they would go towards replacing Metro's older 1000 series cars, which have been in use since Metro's opening in 1976. The Red Line train that collided with another train last June, killing nine people and injuring dozens more, was comprised entirely of 1000 series cars.

The new cars will cost at least $2 billion, and those funds will come out of Metro's capital fund. That's separate from it's operating budget, which covers day-to-day expenses.

There is a plan currently on the table to take money out of the capital fund and use it to fill a shortfall in the operating budget. Metro Board Member Cathy Hudgins, who represents Northern Virginia, says this could affect the purchase of the new cars.

Arts & Culture

NPR

Cannes Film Festival Keeps Kenneth Turan Coming Back

David Greene talks with Morning Edition film critic Kenneth Turan about some of the movies at this year's Cannes Film Festival in France. They include a standout from American director Alexander Payne called Nebraska. Turan first covered the movie festival 42 years ago.

Food

NPR

In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial

Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.

Politics

NPR

IRS Official's Silence Riles House Committee Members

On Wednesday, Lois Lerner, the IRS official overseeing the tax-exempt organizations office, refused to testify during a hearing on Capitol Hill, and was attacked by some Republicans on the House committee. Her brief appearance was the beginning of a five-hour session marked by angry outbursts and allegations of political motives.

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.