San Francisco purchasing an additional 40 Siemens railcars
In addition to the 175 Muni next generation of light rail vehicles approved last year, this purchase will allow Muni to address capacity needs as San Francisco’s population and Muni ridership continue to grow, further improve transit reliability and bolster the economy since Siemens will manufacture the vehicles in their Sacramento facility.
In addition to the 175 Muni next generation of light rail vehicles approved last year, this purchase will allow Muni to address capacity needs as San Francisco’s population and Muni ridership continue to grow, further improve transit reliability and bolster the economy since Siemens will manufacture the vehicles in their Sacramento facility with the first cars operational by the end of 2016.
Ad Loading...
The SFMTA board of directors voted last week to proceed with the contract option to purchase these 40 new light rail vehicles (LRV). Anticipated final actions by the SFMTA board and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the coming weeks will secure funding.
The 40 LRVs, including engineering and other soft costs, will total $210 million. The SFMTA will seek up to $153 million in California cap-and-trade funds and will seek funding authority from the SFMTA board of directors for $57 million. In the event cap and trade funds request is not met, the MTC is expected to partner with the SFMTA to guarantee funds to bridge the gap. This is the first of two options for an additional 85 cars, bringing the overall total to 260 cars.
The advancement in purchase of the additional trains comes just four months after the awarding of the initial contract with Siemens for $648 million to add 175 new and improved Muni light rail vehicles to the fleet that will improve reliability and safety. The contract, which was unanimously supported by the board of supervisors, is the largest light rail contract to be awarded in modern U.S. history. It will help shape the future of San Francisco’s public transportation as the city prioritizes improving the Muni fleet and investing in transportation infrastructure across the San Francisco.
Muni’s new LRV model, called the S200 SF Light Rail Vehicle is a hybrid creation, combining the best elements from both Siemens’ successful high-floor and low-floor light rail platforms, more than 1,300 of which are currently in operation. The vehicles vastly exceed the reliability targets required by the agency and provide an improved, more reliable passenger door system with fewer moving parts that will also require less maintenance.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.
The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
