Maryland Transit Administration Showcases First Purple Line Light Rail Vehicle

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and the Purple Line project team are celebrating the arrival of the first Purple Line electric light rail vehicle. Each Purple Line light rail vehicle is 142-feet long, currently the longest of its kind in the U.S. The vehicles are assembled in Elmira, NY, and then transported to Maryland by flat-bed truck.

“Celebrating the arrival of the Purple Line’s first light rail vehicle is the latest significant milestone in getting this much-needed new transit line up and running,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This new light rail vehicle embodies the many benefits that transit provides, from connecting communities to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The progress being made is because of the commitment and effort over the past year and a half to expedite work along the alignment.”

The vehicles are being built by CAF, a Spain-based rail car manufacturer. Each vehicle has capacity for 430 passengers, with seating for 80, and can accommodate up to eight wheelchairs and features eight bike racks.

“Today marks a major milestone for the Purple Line and a major step forward for Maryland’s public transit future,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “With thousands of feet of rail track installed and 16 of 21 stations currently under construction, we are happy to announce that the project is now more than 65 percent complete.”

Once delivered, the vehicles will undergo an extensive commission and testing process, followed by static track testing that is scheduled to begin later this year. CAF is expected to deliver the entire fleet of 28 vehicles by the end of 2025.