Purple Line live wire testing has reached Bethesda, extending dynamic trials onto the project’s westernmost section as Maryland prepares the 16-mile route for winter 2027 passenger service.

Purple Line light rail vehicle undergoing live wire testing at night
A Purple Line light rail vehicle undergoes nighttime live-wire testing at a station platform. Photo: Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration.

The Maryland Transit Administration began the latest testing phase this week between the Lyttonsville Operations and Maintenance Facility and Bethesda Station. It is the first time Purple Line vehicles have undergone live-wire trials in Montgomery County. 

Purple Line live wire testing covers 2.5 miles

Systems engineers and trained operators are testing trains on 2.5 miles of dedicated track through Lyttonsville, Chevy Chase and Bethesda. The program checks track integrity, electrical equipment and overall system performance while operators assess acceleration and braking at different speeds. Horns and bells may also sound during individual tests. 

Testing was scheduled from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. during the first week before moving mainly to weekday operations from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The vehicles do not interact with road traffic or pedestrians on this section, but the project team has warned the public to stay away from tracks, platforms and energized overhead wires. 

MTA is now conducting live-wire testing in four of the alignment’s seven sections. Crews have installed all 1,187 poles required to support the Purple Line’s overhead power system.

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Purple Line live wire testing supports the 2027 launch

Construction is 90% complete, and crews installed the final rail in early May. The 16-mile line will include 21 stations between Bethesda and New Carrollton, creating connections with Washington Metro, MARC, Amtrak and local bus services.

Purple Line light rail vehicle testing beneath the Baltimore-Washington Parkway
A Purple Line light rail vehicle operates beneath the Baltimore-Washington Parkway during nighttime systems testing. Photo: Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration.

The fleet consists of 28 low-floor light rail vehicles built by CAF and assembled in Elmira, New York. Each 142-foot vehicle can carry 430 passengers, including 80 seated riders, and includes space for up to eight wheelchairs and eight bicycles. The final vehicle arrived in Maryland in November 2025, allowing testing and commissioning to expand across the route. 

The current project timeline targets passenger service in winter 2027. Commissioning, safety validation, operator training and end-to-end system testing must continue before the full alignment opens.

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