On January 8th the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) launched the first six new Hitachi railcars into service on Baltimore’s Metro System.  Acting Secretary Kathryn Thomson, MTA Administrator Holly Arnold, and other state and local officials celebrated the major milestone for the transit agency with a ribbon cutting event held at the Johns Hopkins Metro Subway Station. The new railcars feature state-of-the-art technology designed to enhance safety and improve reliability while providing a more comfortable experience for riders. Along with the new railcars, the agency also debuted a new train control system.

The new railcars were assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland at the Hitachi manufacturing facility and feature larger windows, brighter lighting, better bike space and improved digital signage. Wider doors and reconfigured interiors will allow for faster customer boarding and will improve on-time performance. Energy-efficient lighting, informational display panels with updated route information and an updated audio announcement system will further enhance rider experience.

As the Baltimore region continues to grow, maintaining safe and reliable transit remains essential to getting riders where they need to go on-time. Additional railcars will be phased in throughout 2026 with the total fleet of 78 new railcars expected to be complete by 2027.  This phasing will allow riders to experience the benefits of the new cars as soon as possible. Each railcar undergoes extensive systems testing before being placed into service. The agency also invested in a new, modern communications-based train control and signal system. This technology allows trains to communicate in real time, improving reliability and operating more efficiently.