The consortium of companies that agreed to build and operate the Purple Line in suburban Maryland said it will walk away from the $2 billion light-rail project in about two months unless the state comes to agreeable terms on work delays and expenses that go beyond the scope of the original deal.

Purple Line Transit Partners — a partnership of Meridiam, Fluor Enterprises Inc. and Star America along with a dozen other companies — claims it has the right to terminate the agreement because of delays lasting more than a year it says are entirely the fault of state transportation agencies, according to a letter dated June 23. It was first reported by The Washington Post.

Despite the deadline imposed — 60 days after the letter is received by Maryland — Purple Line Transit Partners CEO Peter van der Waart said he was “fully committed” to working this out with the Maryland Transit Authority and Maryland Department of Transportation.

“[Purple Line Transit Partners] continues to be encouraged…