mowotlarx t1_jbrgg30 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 3:18 AM

It feels like this design was a product of the pre-COVID times when we were all packed in like sardines, ridership kept creeping higher and higher with less comfortable commutes. We have lower ridership now and riders aren't as interested in more standing room. We want more seats and a more relaxing setting. Rather than reevaluate user needs, they just plowed ahead anyway.

AwesomeWhiteDude t1_jbrwfb7 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 5:53 AM

Lower ridership for now, longitudinal seating is never coming back.

Also construction started before COVID even hit, it was way too late to change the design even if they wanted to.

oreosfly t1_jbu75p2 wrote on March 11, 2023 at 7:16 PM

The design process for these cars began back in 2012. They were already in production by the time COVID hit. Redesigning them in 2021 was never going to be a feasible endeavor.