Commuter rail line opens in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico's Tren Urbano began revenue service last week, carrying passengers along 10 miles of track connecting the western suburbs with downtown San Juan.

The elevated “Urban Train” is intended to cut pollution and traffic congestion, while spurring new residential, business and government development around 16 stations.

Tren Urbano is the first passenger rail system in Puerto Rico since 1953 and the first metropolitan rail transit network since electric trolleys in the early 20th century.

The new commuter rail line is the first phase of a system that will be expanded over the next 10 to 15 years.

The system is a turnkey project developed by Siemens, which manufactured the railcars and system infrastructure, and will operate the rail network initially.