The first Purple Line light rail vehicle has arrived, and it’s 142 feet long, the longest of its kind in the United States, the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Transit Administration and the Purple Line project team announced Thursday.
The 16-mile Purple Line is scheduled to transport passengers by the end of 2027.
The vehicles are being built by CAF, a car manufacturer in Spain. They are assembled in Elmira, New York, and then brought to Maryland by flat-bed trucks.
“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 transit provides from connecting communities to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Each vehicle has room for 430 passengers, with seating for 80. It can accommodate eight wheelchairs and has eight bike racks. The vehicles are powered by electricity.
“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% complete.”
The delivered vehicles will be tested later this year. All 28 cars are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.
