Dive Brief:
- The first six of 78 new stainless steel Hitachi rail cars went into service Jan. 8 on Baltimore’s metro subway system, replacing rolling stock from 1983. The full order of the vehicles is expected to be delivered by 2027.
- The Hitachi rail cars feature wider doors for faster boarding and deboarding, more space for bicycles and brighter lighting.
- Hitachi also provided a modern communications-based train control and signaling system, which uses wireless connectivity among trains to improve reliability and efficiency.
Dive Insight:
Baltimore launched the first portion of its subway line more than 40 years ago; it now runs 15.5 miles between downtown Baltimore and Owings Mills, Maryland. Monthly ridership ranged from 350,000 to over 500,000 in the first half of 2025, the latest data available. In addition to the subway system, the Maryland Transit Administration operates local and commuter buses, light rail, commuter rail and a paratransit system.
The new rail cars and control system are a “generational investment in creating a modern, reliable and safe transportation network that residents and employers can rely upon,” Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Kathryn Thomson said in a statement.
Hitachi is assembling and completing the vehicles at its $100 million factory in Hagerstown, Maryland. The facility can build up to 20 rail cars per month and will employ 460 people onsite at full capacity, the company said in a news release.
“These new trains aren’t just about modernizing equipment — they represent a leap forward in service reliability, efficiency, and passenger experience,” Giampaolo Nuonno, Hitachi general manager, vehicles, service delivery solutions, North America, said in a statement.
The $400 million investment in new rail vehicles, funded by federal grants, aims to help improve transportation in the Baltimore area. A Central Maryland Transportation Alliance 2026 report states that “public transportation is too often unreliable and does not efficiently connect to employment centers.”
