The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on Thursday unveiled the first Purple Line light rail car, offering a glimpse of what commuters’ rides will be like when the long-awaited line opens between Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
But commuters shouldn’t get their hopes up: The Purple Line isn’t expected to begin serving passengers until the winter of 2027 at the earliest.
According to MDOT, the new Purple Line cars are the longest of their kind in the United States. Each car is 142 feet long, roughly half the size of a football field. The cars have 80 seats and can carry 430 passengers. The light rail cars are equipped with eight bike racks and can accommodate up to eight wheelchairs.
Unlike Metro’s current trains, which are made up of multiple separate cars, the entire light rail car is one continuous space.
MDOT said the vehicles are electrically powered and designed to reduce noise as they travel through the area.
The Purple Line is arguably the region’s most delayed transportation project, so the delivery and unveiling of the light rail cars marks a major step forward.
The Purple Line project is about 65 percent complete, MDOT Commissioner Paul Wiedfeld told News 4 on Thursday. He said he can’t guarantee the project won’t be delayed again, but they’re actively working toward completion.
“Today marks a major milestone for the Purple Line and a major step forward for the future of public transportation in Maryland,” Maryland Transportation Commissioner Holly Arnold said in a press release.
The Purple Line will consist of 16 miles of track and 21 stations connecting New Carrollton and Bethesda. It will connect directly to Metrorail’s Red, Green, and Orange lines in Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak, and local bus service.