Baltimore Metro

The project features 78 state-of-the-art Hitachi railcars and the replacement of the existing signalling system with an advanced CBTC system. The new Baltimore metro has been designed to be highly innovative in terms of safety, passenger comfort and design, with a 30-year life-cycle capable of providing an average metro journey journey of 80,000 miles per year.

Each bi-directional vehicle has a minimum composition of two identical stainless steel cars, "married pair", with the ability for multiple compositions. Each car has 76 seats and a total capacity of 196 passengers. The floor structure guarantees fire resistance for at least 30 minutes, in compliance with the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 130 requirements. Each car is fully-motorised, with an IGBT inverter per each motor bogie.

All interiors, seat layouts, arrangement of accessories, and heating and lighting systems are designed to provide maximum comfort to passengers and to meet the requirements for access, travel and movement under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The vehicle is equipped with a ground / train communication system, a modern passenger information system and WiFi connection as well as a state-of-the-art integrated diagnostic system in the driver’s cab.

Particular care during the vehicle’s design has been given to the choice of materials able to reduce the weight and therefore energy use, in compliance with fire and smoke emission regulations, as well as to the maintenance of the new metro trains. The car head will be made of fibreglass and, combined with the presence of shaped LEDs, will deliver a modern and innovative design.