This moment represents a major step in the modernization of an infrastructure whose trains and control systems had not been updated since 1983.
The contract, awarded in 2017, covers the delivery of 78 subway cars, worth a total of USD 400.5 million, of which 12 units have been delivered to date.
The new trains are the first to be completed entirely at Hitachi Rail’s new digital factory in Hagerstown, Maryland, strengthening the company’s position in the North American market.
CBTC technology and increased operational capacity
The new trains are equipped with the SelTrac Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, a technology that enables increased capacity, improved performance, and reduced life cycle costs thanks to its modular and scalable architecture.
According to Hitachi Rail, the integration of the new generation of CBTC, based on advanced data analysis, will enable more flexible network operation, adapted to future transport demand in the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Enhanced comfort and passenger-oriented design
Each bidirectional pair consists of two stainless steel cars with 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers per car. The trains are equipped with:
- modern passenger information systems;
- LED lighting;
- interiors compliant with ADA standards;
- driver cabs with integrated diagnostic systems.
The vehicles are designed for a 30-year life cycle, with an estimated average mileage of 80,000 miles per year (approximately 130,000 km per year), and are adapted for intensive operation on a high-capacity urban line.
Made in the USA: the digital factory in Hagerstown
A significant portion of the fleet is assembled at the new Hitachi Rail factory in Hagerstown, a USD 100 million investment that officially opened in September 2025.
The 28,500 m² facility is carbon neutral and can produce up to 20 cars per month, employing approximately 460 people at full capacity.
Hitachi Rail has invested over USD 30 million in digitizing its manufacturing processes, including real-time supply chain monitoring, the use of 3D printing for components and spare parts, and complete transparency on product quality.
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