New Hitachi Rail Metro Cars Enter Service in Baltimore as Major Transit Projects Advance Nationwide

Several major transit milestones across North America highlight continued investment in modern rail systems, transit oriented development, and ridership growth. Recent announcements span new metro cars entering service in Baltimore, congestion pricing success in New York City, a major development selection by WMATA, record breaking ridership for Tri Rail, and a landmark infrastructure installation in Montréal.

Hitachi Rail Metro Cars Begin Revenue Service in Baltimore

Hitachi Rail officially launched revenue service for its new metro railcars on the Maryland Transit Administration’s Baltimore Metro Subway Link on January 7. The project replaces railcars and control systems last updated in 1983 and represents a major modernization effort for Maryland’s only heavy rail subway system.

The $400.5 million contract, awarded in 2017, includes 78 new railcars equipped with advanced SelTrac Communication Based Train Control technology. The upgraded system is designed to increase capacity, improve performance, reduce lifecycle costs, and support scalable future expansion. The new cars prioritize passenger comfort with modern interiors, ADA compliant features, LED lighting, advanced passenger information systems, and updated driver cabs with integrated diagnostics.

Much of the fleet was assembled at Hitachi Rail’s new carbon neutral factory in Hagerstown, Maryland, a $100 million facility that opened in September 2025. The factory employs advanced digital manufacturing tools and is expected to employ up to 460 staff while producing as many as 20 railcars per month.

New York MTA Marks One Year of Congestion Pricing

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that New York City’s congestion pricing program has delivered strong results in its first year. The program reduced traffic in Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone by 11 percent, eliminating approximately 27 million vehicle trips.

According to the MTA, congestion pricing has generated more than $550 million in net revenue in its first year, enabling progress on $15 billion in transit improvements. Funded projects include Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, signal upgrades, accessibility improvements at more than 23 stations, new railcars and buses, and systemwide state of good repair investments.

As of January 2026, more than $6 billion in congestion pricing funded projects are already under construction.

WMATA Selects Developer for Capitol Heights Project

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority selected Atlantic Pacific Companies as the developer for a joint development project at Capitol Heights station in Prince George’s County. The project will deliver approximately 320 affordable housing units and 10,000 square feet of retail space on 3.8 acres of existing surface parking.

The development supports Prince George’s County’s Blue Line Corridor initiative and builds on a $17 million state investment in transit and site infrastructure. WMATA estimates the project will generate nearly 100,000 annual rail trips and strengthen access to transit connected housing and retail.

Tri Rail Sets New Ridership Record

Tri Rail surpassed 4.5 million passenger trips in calendar year 2025, establishing a new ridership record for South Florida’s regional commuter rail system. This achievement exceeds the system’s previous high set in 2019 and follows another record breaking fiscal year.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority credits the growth to continued demand from commuters, leisure travelers, and special event riders. Tri Rail is preparing to support major regional events in 2026, including activities related to the FIFA World Cup.

Otis Completes Installation at Montréal REM

Otis completed a major installation at Montréal’s Réseau Express Métropolitain light metro system, delivering 22 escalators and 57 custom elevators across the network. The elevators feature modern glass and steel designs and include energy saving ReGen drive technology that feeds energy back into the grid.

Otis also secured a five year service contract to support system reliability through off hours maintenance and peak time staffing.

Together, these developments reflect sustained momentum in public transportation infrastructure, modernization, and community focused investment across North America.

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Transit Briefs: Hitachi Rail/MTA, NYMTA, WMATA, Tri-Rail, REM