On 8 May 2026, the first extension of the Metro D Line in Los Angeles was officially inaugurated. With the opening of the new section, the metropolitan region has taken an important step in expanding its public transport network. The subway line, which previously terminated in Koreatown, has been extended by approximately 5.7 kilometres and now runs as far as Wilshire/La Cienega on the edge of Beverly Hills. The three new stations are Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega.
The Metro D Line, also known as the “Purple Line”, is a entirely underground rapid transit service within the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. Following the completion of the first phase of the extension, the route now covers around 14.5 kilometres with a total of eleven stations between Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Together with the B Line, which partly shares the same alignment, it forms part of Los Angeles’ current rapid transit network, which extends to around 187 km. In addition to the two full-scale underground (subway) lines, B and D (Red + Purple), the network also includes four light rail lines operating largely on surface: line A (Blue), C (Green), E (Gold) and K (Pink). A network scheme is available here: https://www.urbanrail.net/am/lsan/los-angeles.htm .
The new connection is intended in particular to relieve the heavily congested transport corridor along Wilshire Boulevard. Journey times from Union Station to Wilshire/La Cienega will in future be reduced to around 21 minutes. Representatives of LA Metro described the project as a milestone for more sustainable mobility in what has traditionally been a highly car-oriented metropolis.
The extension forms part of a wider expansion programme. By 2027, the line is due to be extended by a further 8 kilometres to Westwood. Once completed, the D Line will be around 23 kilometres long and include seven new stations. The project is regarded as one of the region’s most important transport infrastructure schemes, particularly in view of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
New Rolling Stock from CRRC
The extension will also see increased use of the new CRRC HR4000 rolling stock. The trains were developed by the Chinese manufacturer CRRC for the B and D Lines and have been gradually entering service since the end of 2024. CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles built the car bodies and mechanical components, while CRRC Times Electric USA in Naperville, Illinois, supplied the electrical equipment.
The trains feature open gangways throughout, digital passenger information systems, USB charging ports and wider multi-purpose areas to provide greater capacity. LA Metro initially ordered 64 cars, with options for additional vehicles to support future network expansion. The new trains are primarily intended to improve both the capacity and reliability of underground operations.
