As we discussed last week, the Post recently removed columns from the front pages of the Business and Metro section, relegating them to the "wildnerness" of the inside pages and replacing them with "rails," or indexes to what's inside.

A few Postie's have commented on the decision on their internal critique board:

TINA ALVA , Editorial Aide, National
The Metro rail: I'm still thinking about that. I miss seeing Marc Fisher's column look like a column down the side of the page.

Karl Evanzz:

Now, about that new Metro rail. Get rid of it, or at least stop using that dreadful RED type. It's hell on these 50-year-old eyeballs. And, as several colleagues noted, Metro is so small that the rail is a waste of space.

ED THIEDE, AME/News Desk

And the Rail: Today we started the Metro rail. Still a work in progress and obviously we shouldn't pick a day when we are banking a lot of space to try to find something inside the section to key to with art (This one was not a good call). The rail will get better, though. Give it a few weeks. For those who question displacing the columnists, I would argue that Fisher's Cabin column last week -- played as display story with art -- was a nice call and shows the possibilities that exist if we have the flexibility that moving the columnist around the page affords us.

Nick Anderson:

I know it's a done deal. But I still vote against the Metro-page rail. Our columnists have a strong franchise in that space above the fold, and I wish we wouldn't mess with that. Plus, we're depriving the page of display room for at least one news or feature story.

Judy C. Sarasohn:

I actually like the rails, particularly the ones for Business and Metro -- they give me a quick idea of where the stories are in the sections. (as helpful as the Sports rail might be, I'm withholding judgment until I see notice in the rail of a women's tennis story.). But I think it's a bad idea to move any of the Metro front columns inside from time to time. I think readers come to expect a column in a particular place, or at least on a particular page, and don't want to shuffle pages looking for it.

Marc Fisher also fielded a few questions during his recent washingtonpost.com chat...after the jump:

• Washington, D.C.: Why are they moving your column?

  Marc Fisher: The column was moved to make way for the new index that now appears on the left side of the Metro page. Every section of the paper except the A section now has an index on its front. The idea is to make the paper more accessible. Any reactions to the index?

• Index, indon't: Sorry, bad pun. The index is OK, but they should move the regular Metro columns to the far right column, so that it is in the same place each day.

  Happy Holidays!

  Marc Fisher: The New York Times did that in today's sports section and it looked pretty good. But Metro needs a place to put the news, so that's not going to happen--but thanks for your support.

• Washington, D.C.: Boo! Hiss! On The Post's decision to move your column. They also moved Perlstein's and I'm still bitter about that one ...

  Marc Fisher: Thanks--Pearlstein's column in Business is a strong one, so it has survived the move, but anytime you ask readers to jump to another page to continue reading, it's something of an imposition.

• Re: index: Don't care. Really, not in the least. I flip through the sections anyway. An index does nothing for me.

  Liked the pictures with your column. Is this going to become a regular thing?

  Marc Fisher: Thanks--it won't be every week, but when appropriate and when plannable, yes, I'll try to get some pix going on some columns.

• THE INDEX: Will there be an overall index on the front page of the first section that lets people know that the other indexes will be on the front page of each section?

  Marc Fisher: Starting in 2007, the front page will be replaced by a Master Index to all Section Indexes. The actual stories will be displaced, appearing on the web for your convenience.

• Rockville, Md.: The floating column location with a jump sucks. Tell your editor it's a horrible, confusing idea and that readers prefer consistency.

  Marc Fisher: You just told him.

• Don't Do It: Do not move the column. We don't like change here in D.C.

  Marc Fisher: 'Tis done. As our beloved former mayor says, Get over it. I'm trying to.

• Washington, D.C.: Marc --

  Did a focus group or something tell your editors that putting your column on two pages and adding that insipid index on the spine of the paper was a good idea? Well, they were wrong.

  I'm a long-time reader and subscriber to The Post, am in the appealing 24-35-year-old demographic and HATE the redesign. Honestly, seeing the blurbs on the index makes me less likely to turn the page, since the "gist" of the article isn't appealing, I have no reason to see if the headline or lede catch my eye. Also, since I stand on Metro to work, your one-page column was perfect when juggling the Metro pole, paper, and my bag. Now? Not so much.

  Marc Fisher: Thanks for your support. A column, in a perfect world, should be a column, something you read in a single glance, in one spot. Maybe someday we can get back to that.

• Floating column: Index, floating column -- doesn't affect me at all. I read The post online and save some trees in the process (yes, I realize the paper is recycled, but it was a tree at some point before)

  Marc Fisher: You might save a tree, but as a non-paying customer, you're contributing to the decline of the product that you're reading. That's not to say you shouldn't read us online--that's clearly where the future lies--but it leaves the news business without a sufficient business model, at least so far.