Hitachi Rail metro cars begin Baltimore revenue service

Hitachi Rail metro cars have begun revenue service on the Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) Baltimore Metro Subway Link, moving the line’s fleet and rail control systems upgrade into its next stage.

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

The work stems from a 2017 contract to replace and modernise Baltimore’s heavy-rail rolling stock and train control equipment, last updated in 1983, as reported by Railway Gazette International. It is also the first completed order produced from Hitachi Rail’s new Hagerstown, Maryland manufacturing facility.

Hitachi Rail metro cars and the Baltimore Metro Subway Link upgrade

Under a USD 400.5 million contract, the programme calls for a 78-railcar fleet replacement, with 12 cars delivered so far, as previously covered by Railway Supply. Hitachi Rail’s SelTrac™ Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology is part of the rollout, with the updated system intended to support higher capacity and improved operational performance, while enabling flexible, scalable infrastructure and more efficient maintenance.

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Kathryn Thomson, Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, said the new vehicles are “an important step forward for riders and our region,” adding that the effort is “far more than a fleet replacement” and a “generational investment” in a modern, reliable and safe transportation network.

Fleet details: capacity, interiors and expected mileage

Each railcar is a bi-directional stainless-steel pair with 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers. The cars have ADA-compliant interiors, LED lighting, and passenger information systems, along with fibreglass car heads and a design life of about 30 years. Driver cabs include integrated diagnostic systems, and the trains are expected to operate an average of 80,000 miles per year—details also outlined on Hitachi Rail’s Baltimore Metro project page.

Joseph Pozza, President of Hitachi Rail in the United States, said the start of revenue service is a “historic moment” for Baltimore and Maryland. He noted that the project upgrades a 40-year-old fleet and rail control systems with SelTrac™ technology to deliver modern and sustainable railcars intended to meet passenger needs for decades. Pozza also said the partnership with MTA and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) reflects Hitachi’s long-term commitment to transforming urban mobility in the U.S.

Hagerstown factory capacity and digital manufacturing

A substantial portion of the fleet was assembled at Hitachi Rail’s Hagerstown factory, a 307,000 ft² facility that officially opened in September 2025. At full operational capacity, the plant is designed to produce up to 20 railcars per month and employs 460 staff.

The site uses digital manufacturing systems, including real-time supply chain monitoring, local component production using 3D printing, and additive manufacturing for spares and tooling. These processes are intended to provide transparency across production quality and align with Hitachi Rail’s broader North American operations strategy.

Deliveries of the remaining Baltimore metro cars are scheduled in phases, with full integration into the existing fleet planned over the coming months.

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