USA: The MDOT Maryland Transit Administration has announced that the testing of eight five-car LRVs on a 1.6 km section in the city of Glenarden has begun.
It is said that the tests, scheduled through 2026, will validate the performance of key components, including the braking, electrical, and signalling systems. Each 43.3 m long tram can accommodate 430 passengers, with 80 of them seated. There are eight areas for wheelchairs and eight bicycle stands.
Dynamic tests of CAF trams in Glenarden. Source: PurpleLineMD/X
The contract to supply 28 LRVs was signed back in June 2016. The deliveries from the plant in Elmira, New York, began last year. The rolling stock is scheduled to be launched in 2027 on the 26.1 km long Purple Line, which will connect Washington’s suburbs. Initially, the route was to be opened in 2022, however, the project faced several challenges, including financial and environmental issues.
