Purple Line light-rail vehicles complete Maryland fleet order

Purple Line light-rail vehicles for Maryland are now fully delivered, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) has confirmed in an announcement made late last week. With the 28th trainset arriving on Nov. 19, the order of 28 state-of-the-art vehicles that will operate on the new line is now complete — a milestone also highlighted by Railway Supply.

Purple Line light-rail vehicles: size and capacity

Built by Spain-based rail-car manufacturer CAF, the trains supplied for the Maryland Transit Administration Purple Line project measure 142 feet from end to end, placing them among the longest light-rail vehicles in the United States.

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As the MTA has outlined, each vehicle can accommodate 430 passengers, with 80 of those traveling seated. Final assembly takes place in Elmira, New York, where every unit goes through an extensive commissioning and testing program before entering passenger service.

Route, stations and connections in Maryland

Overall, construction of the Purple Line is 85% complete. As Progressive Railroading notes, once the line opens it will provide New Carrollton to Bethesda light-rail service with 21 stations across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Riders will gain direct connections between the Purple Line and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Metrorail network, as well as Amtrak, MARC commuter rail and local bus services, tightening links along this Maryland corridor.

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