Purple Line light-rail trains have begun doing test runs near Riverdale Park.

The Maryland Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it has begun “dynamic testing” of the trains on a one-mile test track along Veterans Parkway.

The testing process is expected to take about a year. During testing, the 142-foot light rail vehicles run on the tracks to check mechanical systems such as braking, propulsion and signaling under real-world conditions.

A spokesperson said the Purple Line is about 75 percent completed and expected to open in December of 2027.

Since its launch in 2015, the 16.2-mile light rail transit project that will run through parts of Riverdale Park and College Park has seen construction delays and cost overruns.

But the sight of trains actually running on tracks is the most visible evidence yet that the project remains on track.

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