The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) unveiled the first Purple Line light rail vehicle on Thursday, giving a glimpse of what commuters’ rides could be like when the long-awaited line opens between Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
But commuters shouldn’t hold their breath. Passengers aren’t expected to be riding the Purple Line until winter 2027 at the earliest.
According to MDOT, the new Purple Line vehicles are the longest of their kind in the United States. Each vehicle is 142 feet long, which is about half the size of a football field. The vehicles can carry 430 passengers with seating for 80. The light rail vehicles feature eight bike racks and can accommodate up to eight wheelchairs.
The entire light rail vehicle is one continuous space, unlike Metro’s current trains, which are composed of multiple separate cars.
The vehicles are electric and designed to reduce noise as they travel through communities, MDOT said.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Joseph Olmo over at NBC 4 Washington
