Maryland reveals Purple Line light-rail vehicle

Maryland transportation officials have revealed the first light-rail vehicle for the Purple Line, a project that has been delayed repeatedly and is now set to open in 2027.

The vehicle is 142 feet long, with space for about 430 passengers, NBC4 Washington reported . Unlike a Metro train, there are no doors separating cars, allowing riders to walk the length of the vehicle.

“Today marks a major milestone for the Purple Line and a major step forward for Maryland’s public transit future,” Maryland Transit Administration Administrator Holly Arnold said . “With thousands of feet of rail track installed and 16 of 21 stations currently under construction, we are happy to announce that the project is now more than 65% complete.”

The 16-mile Purple Line will stretch from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda in Montgomery County, with connections to four Metro stations along the way: Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park, and New Carrollton. The line will also connect to the MARC Train, Amtrak, and local bus services, according to the project’s website.

The project is owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration, not the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, but Metro is working with the Purple Line team to “minimize construction impacts” to customers, according to WMATA.

Construction on the Purple Line began in 2017 and was originally expected to be completed in 2022. After numerous delays, the line is now set to open in winter 2027.

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Still, there’s no guarantee the opening won’t be postponed again, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

“On any large complex project, there’s definitely the possibility for future delays,” Arnold told the Washington Post last year.