The short answer is yes.

Metrolink has never "banned" passengers from the lead car during "push" operations, just from the small intermediate level section where the control cab was...this is about 18 seats or so. The upper and lower levels along with the intermediate level opposite the control cab are open to passengers in push operation. The new Rotem cab cars have a very similar layout to the old cars with a few exceptions. The control cab is on the upper level accessed via a short, narrow walkway off the main passenger compartment. The intermediate level on the "leading end" of the car is still there and passenger cars ride it at all times as there is significant crash protection (steel posts and energy absorbing foam material) to protect them.

Having ridden both cars in the past few months, the biggest different with the new cars is that everybody seats facing backwards during push mode...there are no four seat sets with two seats facing two seats. The seats are closer together but I didn't feel crunched and the ride quality is about the same.