You would figure that, running a Metro-North blog, I would be on top of a story about the new M-8 car prototype being unveiled at Union station today, but truth be told I had NO CLUE.

And as far as I can tell, not many other news organizations knew either.

I looked on Governor Rell’s site – no mention.

I looked on CT.gov site – not in latest news section.

I searched Google news and blogs – nope.

This is the day-of mind you!

How did I find out? By following through on this excellent Bloomberg article about the new M-8 cars, which was forwarded from a reader while he was on vacation in Florida (thanks T.O.!).

Still, I had no details about the unveiling – so I dug around on the MTA site, and sure enough, sitting there in a typically un-web-friendly PDF file, was a one-pager letting us know that the new prototype car would be on display today and tommorrow. Gee, thanks for the heads-up.

So if you want to take a peek into the future of your commute, you need to be at Union Station tommorrow:

From the PDF:

“A mock-up of one-third of the interior of a new M-8 train car has arrived and will be on display at
New Haven/Union Station at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, May 21, 4 PM – 7 PM
• Thursday, May 22, 5 AM – 8 AM

The mock-up will also be made available to customers at Stamford Station and Grand CentralTerminal. As soon as plans for those two locations are finalized, we will let you know.
The mock-up is 27 feet long by 11-1/2 feet high by 9-1/2 feet deep, and weighs 16,825 pounds.

Inside this stainless steel box is a recreation of an M-8 interior, with its red, beige and yellow color
scheme. Highlights include high-back seating, a distinctive vestibule area, luggage racks, bathroom,
and other amenities.

The M-8 interior also features convenience outlets at every window seat, seat armrests in a loop
style, and enhanced flip-down seating that easily and quickly converts to a spacious wheelchair area.
Customers will note the open, airy and bright feeling, thanks to improved lighting and addition of
curves where possible, giving these cars a distinctive design identity.

After viewing the mock-up, customers will have the opportunity to fill out comment cards.
The M-8 prototypes are scheduled to arrive for testing the second half of 2009. The 300 cars in this
contract will continue to arrive through mid-2012.

We are excited about this new era of rail service on the New Haven Line. Thank you for your continued
patience.”