Baltimore Metro Subway Link new cars begin revenue service

Baltimore Metro Subway Link new cars are now in revenue service, with the first six vehicles from a larger fleet renewal order beginning operations on the city’s Metro subway system, as reported by Trains.com.

On Wednesday, the Maryland Transit Administration marked the rollout with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for six new Hitachi Rail subway cars. The vehicles are the first delivered under a 78-car, $400 million order placed in 2017.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Kathryn Thomson said in a press release that the new railcars are an important investment in riders and the region’s economic vitality. She described the effort as more than a routine fleet replacement, framing it as a long-term commitment to a modern, reliable, and safe transportation network that residents and employers can rely on.

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Fleet details for Baltimore Metro Subway Link new cars

Delivered as married pairs, the Hitachi Rail cars provide 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers, including standees. They bring Hitachi’s SelTrac Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) to the fleet and include ADA-compliant interiors, large windows, added space for bikes, and digital information signage.

Manufacturing is taking place at the Hitachi plant in Hagerstown, Md., which opened last September.

SelTrac CBTC and Baltimore Metro Subway Link upgrades

In a press release, Joseph Pozza, president of Hitachi Rail in the U.S., called the beginning of revenue service a historic moment for transit in Baltimore and in Maryland. He said the program upgrades the city’s 40-year-old fleet and rail control systems using Hitachi Rail’s SelTrac technology, supporting modern and sustainable railcars designed to meet passenger needs for decades to come, as previously covered by Railway Supply.

Line overview and ridership

Baltimore’s Metro Subway Link is a 15.4-mile, 14-station line connecting Owings Mills, Md., with downtown Baltimore. Ridership data on the Maryland DOT website shows the line carried about 350,000 passengers in June 2025, which is the most recent month available.

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