Is there a way to tell which trains are the new safe ones on the D.C. Metro, so you can wait for the next one?

I can understand your aprehension but I would advise you not really worry about it.

It was a computer error that probably caused the mishap, all trains are running onmanual control now and that is not likely to happen.

Just dont get on the head or rear car, the middle cars are always safer in a collision.

Chances are that if you ride every day for the rest of your life you will never be involved in a collision, you are much more at risk on any public street in an automobile than in a commuter train.

You already answered your question. The first digit in the car number is the class. The problem class is 1xxx.

However Metro is saying they're going to rearrange their trains so 1000's are only in the middle. http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/26/metro-...

All Metro trains operate in married pairs.

Personally what I've learned about their signal system, I'm not too impressed. I'd tend toward the middle even if they are 1000s.

Here's a list of current types of metro cars in use:

http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/Washington_Metr...

And here's more info about them, including photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Metro_roll...

You can use those photos to help identify which type of metro it is. Keep in mind that the newest cars are manufactured by Alston, the second-newest by CAF-AAI, older than that are made by Breda, and the oldest, like the 1000-series cars involved in the crash, are made by Rohr.

You can also look around and see if you can see a fleet number. I can't figure out where they're located from pictures I've seen.

lol, a bit paranoid, eh?