The first Siemens-built light rail vehicle for San Francisco entered revenue service. The new light rail vehicles will be built at the Siemens plant in Sacramento, Calif. In total, the company will deliver 219 light rail vehicles for San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), Siemens’ largest order for light railcars placed in the U.S.

“An incredible amount of work went into making sure these state-of-the-art, once-in-a-generation vehicles are going to work well for Muni riders for many years to come,” said SFMTA Director, Transportation, Ed Reiskin. “When we initiated the contract, it was the largest light rail vehicle contract ever awarded in the United States and we are pleased that this project is ahead of schedule.”

“The start of the revenue service is an important milestone not only for Siemens and SFMTA, but also for the more than 700,000 passengers who use San Francisco’s transportation system per day. The new trains will contribute to the growing demand for mass transit in the booming metropolis,” said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division.

Siemens newly-developed light rail vehicle is based on its Model S200 and is especially energy-efficient thanks to a light-weight drive system that recuperates braking energy and an LED lighting system that uses up to 40% less electricity than standard neon lighting. The trains for SFMTA include features informed by public input including a new seating configuration, new interior color schemes, and new exterior design.