The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is inviting customers to visit a pop-up exhibit at Gallery Place – Chinatown Metro Station to view the design concepts for its future fleet of trains.
These new trains are expected to start passenger operations throughout Washington in 2026.
The contract for the supply of the new trains was awarded to Hitachi Rail Washington in 2021.
Under this agreement, the rolling stock manufacturer will produce up to 800 railcars at a new manufacturing hub in Washington County, Maryland.
The original design concept for the new vehicles was developed in 2022, and changes have since been made to incorporate customer feedback.
Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke said:We’re designing Metro’s fleet of the future for all of our customers, and we’re working hard to get as much public input as possible throughout the process. Metro’s next generation of trains will serve our region for decades, so we must ensure customer needs are met, while incorporating advances in technology that will allow our system to evolve with our trains.
The designs for the new rolling stock now include enhanced security, improved ventilation and airflow, charging ports for electronic devices, energy-efficient heated flooring and lighter exteriors made of aluminium.
They have also been designed with more space for passengers and updated seating configurations, as well as dedicated space for bikes and luggage and separate spaces for wheelchairs.

In addition, the new designs feature open passageways for moving between cars, which will increase safety, passenger flow and capacity.
The new cars will also be equipped with larger digital display screens that will be placed in locations that are more visible for all customers.
Hitachi Rail is scheduled to deliver the first pilot car to Washington Metro in 2025.