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

Hitachi Rail/MTA

Hitachi Rail on Jan. 7 celebrated the official start of revenue service for its new cutting-edge metro cars produced for the MTA’s Baltimore Metro Subway Link.

Originally contracted in 2017, this milestone marks a significant development for Maryland’s only heavy rail subway system, replacing and upgrading existing rolling stock and rail control systems last updated in 1983. As the first project to be completed in Hitachi Rail’s new factory located in Hagerstown, Md., the new system “will also enhance comfort and reliability for thousands of daily commuters while providing a modern ridership experience,” according to the agency.

Fleet Highlights & Technological Innovation

• 78 state-of-the-art railcars (12 cars delivered to date) to be delivered under a $400.5 million contract awarded in 2017—featuring Hitachi Rail’s advanced SelTrac™ Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology.
• Upgraded SelTrac™ technology will provide higher system capacity with improved performance with state-of-the art data analytics, lower capital investment and lifecycle costs, and flexible and scalable architecture.
• New metro cars are designed to be highly innovative, with passenger comfort and design at the forefront. Updated driver cab also includes state-of-the-art integrated diagnostic system.
• Each bi-directional married pair consists of two stainless steel cars, equipped with 76 seats on board and a capacity of 196 passengers per rail car.
• Built with advanced passenger information systems, LED lighting, ADA-compliant interiors, and fiberglass car heads– with a 30-year-life-cycle capable of providing an average journey of 80,000 miles per year.

“The beginning of revenue service marks a historic moment in transit for both Baltimore and the state of Maryland—upgrading the city’s 40-year-old fleet and rail control systems with Hitachi Rail’s advanced SelTrac™ ​ technology, which will help to deliver modern and sustainable railcars that will meet passenger needs for decades to come,” said Joseph Pozza President of Hitachi Rail in the United States. “Our partnership with MTA and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) demonstrates Hitachi’s long-term dedication to transforming urban mobility in the U.S.”

“Our riders and our region deserve a strong, modern transit system,” said MTA Administrator, Holly Arnold. “By investing in new, state-of-the-art railcars, we are connecting communities and delivering on our promise to provide fast, reliable, and safe transit service.”

A significant portion of the new fleet was assembled and completed at Hitachi Rail’s $100M state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral factory in Hagerstown, Md. Officially opened in September 2025, the 307,000-square-foot facility is capable of building up to 20 railcars per month—employing 460 onsite staff once meeting project operational capacity.

With digital at its core, more than $30 million has been invested in digital enhancements including a focus on high quality production and customer value creation, according to Hitachi Rail. The smart factory harnesses real-time supply chain and manufacturing monitoring, local component manufacturing using 3D printing and on-site additive manufacturing for spares and tooling, and full transparency on product quality. ​“Both the Hagerstown factory and the Baltimore metro cars reaffirm the expansion of Hitachi Rail’s business in North America, mirroring the priorities of the Hitachi Group as a whole,” the company noted.

The full rollout for the remaining Baltimore metro cars remains on track for completion, “ensuring seamless service integration with the existing fleet debuted during this afternoon’s ceremony,” said Hitachi Rail.

NYMTA

The New York MTA on Jan. 5 announced that on its one-year anniversary, New York City’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program has been “a transformational success, reducing traffic, improving quality of life and supporting. Billions in transit upgrades.”

In its first year, congestion pricing resulted in 27 million fewer vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) of Manhattan south of 60th Street, an 11% reduction in traffic, according to the MTA. Reduced gridlock has improved commute times across the region, especially at crossings into the CRZ, with some drivers saving as much as 15 minutes each way. Congestion pricing, the agency says, has reduced emissions, made streets safer, improved quality of life, and has generated more than $550 million in net revenue in its first year, allowing the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in transit improvement projects.

According to the MTA, congestion pricing has consistently met monthly revenue targets needed to generate the projected $500 million in annual net revenue. As of November 2025, $518 million in net tolling revenue has been collected and allocated to support transit improvements and mitigation initiatives, with preliminary projections for year-end exceeding $550 million in net revenues.

Overall, the program allows the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in funding for the 2020-2024 Capital Plan, “advancing projects to rebuild, improve and expand the transit system.” A third of that funding is dedicated towards performing critical state of good repair work to ensure the continued reliability of the transit system.

Projects funded by congestion pricing include:

• Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 ($3B)
• Signal upgrades along the AC and BDFM lines ($3B)
• Accessibility improvements to 23+ subway stations ($2B)
• New railcars and buses ($2B)
• State of Good Repair projects ($5B)

As of Jan. 1, 2026, more than $6 billion in projects unlocked by Congestion Relief are in construction, including Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, ADA upgrades at nine stations, new signals serving more than 600,000 A/C riders in Brooklyn and Queens, and systemwide state of good repair work.

More information on the one-year anniversary of the MTA’s congestion pricing is available here.

WMATA

WMATA on Jan. 6 announced that A|P has been selected as the developer for a joint development project at Capitol Heights station in Prince George’s County. The project, the agency says, “will deliver new affordable housing and neighborhood-serving retail space, advancing the county’s broader Blue Line Corridor vision.”

The project builds on a $17 million commitment from the state of Maryland toward transit and site infrastructure improvements at Capitol Heights station, announced in 2024. Metro, Prince George’s County, and the town of Capitol Heights have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing a partnership to advance the development.

The Capitol Heights station project is part of Prince George’s County’s Blue Line Corridor initiative, “a coordinated planning effort to catalyze growth and attract private investment at four Metro stations between Capitol Heights and Downtown Largo.” In support of this vision, the state of Maryland has committed $450 million to deliver a range of signature facilities along the corridor, including an amphitheater, market hall, central library, and cultural center, civic plaza, youth sports fieldhouse, complete streets infrastructure, and the Central Avenue Connector Trail.

“This project shows what’s possible when regional partners align around a shared vision for transit-oriented growth,” said WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “By bringing new affordable housing and retail directly connected to transit, we’re strengthening ridership, supporting the community, and helping the Blue Line Corridor reach its full potential.”

As part of the development concept, approximately 3.8 acres of existing surface parking will be transformed into 320 affordable apartments priced at 60% of the area median income, along with about 10,000 square feet of retail space. In addition to A|P, the development team also includes architect Torti Gallas + Partners and general contractor Whiting Turner.

WMATA estimates the development will generate almost 100,000 annual rail trips. The development will also access key bus routes connecting Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia.

The developer was competitively selected based on experience delivering affordable housing projects, which include properties in Prince George’s County. WMATA also evaluated proposals from two other development teams as part of the selection process.

Tri-Rail

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) on Jan. 6 announced that Tri-Rail has surpassed 4.5 million rides in calendar year 2025, establishing a new all-time ridership record for the regional commuter rail system.

This milestone follows the achievement from Tri-Rail’s fiscal year (from July 2024 through June 2025) that surpassed 4.5 million rides, as well. With this performance, Tri-Rail has exceeded its previous record set in 2019, when the system surpassed 4.4 million rides in both the fiscal and calendar years.

Tri-Rail concluded calendar year 2024 with its second-highest ridership total, “underscoring the system’s continued role in accommodating a growing number of passengers who rely on the service for regional travel, whether as daily commuters or as seasonal and leisure riders,” the agency said.

Tri-Rail began the year by once again offering New Year’s Special Service, providing post-midnight train service for partygoers celebrating at Bayfront. The system, the agency says, is also well positioned in 2026 to serve spectators attending events at Miami Freedom Park, which is inaugurating this year, and is a key partner in Miami-Dade County’s transportation committee for the FIFA World Cup. Tri-Rail is actively preparing to provide transportation for World Cup matches and associated Fan Festival activities.

“Our passengers are the lifeblood of this system, and we are deeply grateful for their continued support,” said David Dech, SFRTA Executive Director. “We will repay that trust by continuing to enhance the service in every way possible and try to provide the best possible travel experience that South Florida deserves.”

REM

Elevator and escalator manufacturing company Otis has completed a landmark installation at the REM light metro transit in Montreal, a transformative project that was designed to connect communities across Greater Montréal and offer safe, reliable and accessible transportation across the city.

Otis provided 22 escalators and 57 custom elevators, including Gen2® elevators, engineered to meet the unique requirements of each station.

The REM elevators feature glass elevator cabs framed in precision-engineered steel, delivering a sleek, modern look while offering durability and safety for high-traffic environments.

Aligned with REM’s sustainability goals, energy-saving features include Otis ReGen drives on the elevators and escalators, which feed energy back into the grid.

Otis also secured a five-year service contract for the elevators and escalators, with maintenance and testing performed outside regular business hours by resident mechanics and increased support during peak times to maximize performance and limit inconvenience to passengers.

More information is available here.