Purple Line final rail placement was marked on May 7. Maryland elected officials and state transportation leaders attended the ceremony. It marked installation of the final rail section on the future light-rail line. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Purple Line final rail marks testing step in Maryland
Photo: Maryland Department of Transportation-Maryland Transit Administration. Purple Line final rail marks testing step in Maryland

As Progressive Railroading reported, MDOT-MTA will operate the 16.2-mile route. MDOT-MTA is the Maryland Department of Transportation-Maryland Transit Administration. Also, it will include 21 stations. It will run from Bethesda in Montgomery County to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. The line is now nearly 90% complete.

Purple Line final rail allows testing to move ahead

The ceremony took place at 16th Street-Woodside Station. Officials marked the completion of 193,100 feet of track there. With that track work finished, the next stage can begin. It covers vehicle and systems integration testing.

“Placement of the last rail represents more than construction progress, this milestone represents our commitment to expanding mobility so that more people can access jobs, education, essential services and opportunity,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said in a press release.

MDOT-MTA targets construction completion in 2026

Meanwhile, MDOT-MTA plans to finish construction by the end of 2026. Remaining work includes station structural elements, landscaping, and train and traffic signal controls. The Purple Line is expected to open in late 2027.

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