Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Per a $73 million contract, the 18 vehicles will be manufactured from start to finish at Siemens' rail vehicle manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif., a facility powered almost entirely by two megawatts of solar energy. The first new rail cars are expected to be delivered in August 2014.

Twenty-seven light rail vehicles will be retrofitted with an ultra capacitor-based, energy storage system, which captures and stores regenerative braking energy as it is generated, uses the stored energy for acceleration and releases surplus energy to other vehicles on the system as needed.

Deal forms part of the contract signed with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive in 2007 and is valued at approximately $51 million, with Bombardier's share valued at approximately $38 million.

The new LRVs are scheduled to be delivered between January 2014 and June 2017; the new trams will arrive in Frankfurt/Main between August and December 2012.

The $153.1 million proposal submitted by the vehicle manufacturer is fully compliant with the FTA and Buy America guidelines and will now move forward with the news earlier this week that a Full Funding Grant Agreement is in place.

As well as having 100 percent low-floor technology for optimal ride comfort, the new tram includes some new advanced features, such as touch-screens in the driver's cab, reflecting the latest developments in intelligent digital technology.

The deal, which includes spare parts and training for the vehicles, marks Siemens' second order from Houston Metro, which will bring the total number of Siemens S70 vehicles in Houston to 37.

Being tested to determine how they perform when operating in the conditions that CTA's rail fleet is subjected to throughout the year. The prototypes must successfully complete testing on all eight rail lines before CTA will authorize the delivery of the remaining 396 rail cars.

The first completed LRV is currently being inspected by SFMTA personnel in order to ensure that all issues are addressed and that the rehabilitation of the remaining 142 vehicles is done correctly by AnsaldoBreda, the manufacturer.

The agreement for option vehicles from a June 2009 contract is valued at approximately $745 million.