METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Utah Transit Authority Taps Stadler for New Light Rail Vehicles

The initial $129 million contract is for 20 new Stadler Citylink light rail cars and funded, in part, by a Federal Transit Administration grant.

October 24, 2024
Utah Transit Authority Taps Stadler for New Light Rail Vehicles

The initial $129 million contract is for 20 new Stadler Citylink light rail cars and funded, in part, by a Federal Transit Administration grant. 

Photo: Rendering Via Stadler

2 min to read


The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) board approved a contract for up to 80 new light rail vehicles as part of the agency’s TRAX Modernization project to upgrade and expand service over the next decade. 

Stadler was selected by UTA through competitive procurement and will build the vehicles at its Salt Lake City-based U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility. 

Ad Loading...

“The location of Stadler’s manufacturing facility in Utah provides a unique opportunity for UTA to work directly with our equipment supplier and fast track adjustments that develop throughout the build process,” said UTA Executive Director Jay Fox. “With a 25-year-old TRAX system and ridership already up 17% this year systemwide, these new vehicles will help UTA modernize and expand its light rail system for generations to come.” 

First Stadler LRVs in U.S.

The initial $129 million contract is for 20 new Stadler Citylink light rail cars and funded, in part, by a Federal Transit Administration grant. Pending additional funding, it includes options for 60 additional vehicles, all built in accordance with federal Buy America requirements. 

The Citylink light rail vehicle can be modified to meet customers’ needs and requirements and offers maximum accessibility in part due to its low-floor design. 

More than 800 units of this low-vibration vehicle type have been sold in various countries across Europe since 2003. 

“Salt Lake City is our home in the U.S., and the opportunity to build trains for our community is a massive honor,” said Martin Ritter, CEO at Stadler US Inc. Most of our workforce and their families live in and around Salt Lake City and will ride these new trains, so the excitement can be felt throughout our entire facility today.” 

Ad Loading...

Stadler’s Salt Lake City Facility

Stadler established its U.S. headquarters in Salt Lake City in 2016 when the company expanded to North America from Europe. 

Stadler now employs more than 500 people at its Salt Lake manufacturing facility and employment will continue to grow as Stadler expands to meet market demands across the country. 

More Rail

Caltrain trains on tracks
Railby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Caltrain Adopts Corridor-Wide Right-of-Way Safety Strategy

Caltrain and its partners have implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risk conditions, operational needs, and available funding since the agency’s founding.

Read More →
A photo of rail tracks in Ottawa, Canada

Building a National Framework for Transit Safety and Consistency

On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.

Read More →
Stairs in a New York rail station with text reading "USDOT Invests $686 Million to Modernize Aging Rail Stations."
Railby StaffMarch 2, 2026

FTA Invests $686M to Modernize Aging Rail Stations

Competitive FTA grants will support accessibility upgrades, family-friendly improvements, and cost-efficient capital projects at some of the nation’s oldest and busiest transit hubs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A purple MBTA train at a Mansfield Station platform.
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

MBTA Updates Rail Modernization Plan to Expand Reliability and Accessibility

The strategy outlines near- and long-term upgrades to ease congestion, support housing growth, and advance statewide climate goals.

Read More →
LA Metro underground station with vehicle
Railby StaffFebruary 27, 2026

LA Metro Sets D Line Subway Extension Launch Date

The 3.92-mile addition will soon take riders west beyond its current Wilshire and Western station in Koreatown, continuing under Wilshire Boulevard through neighborhoods and communities including Hancock Park, Windsor Square, the Fairfax District, and Carthay Circle into Beverly Hills.

Read More →
MBTA railcars
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Boston's MBTA Marks Progress in Regional Rail Modernization

The procurement advances the agency's broader efforts to modernize its rail fleet and position Regional Rail for long-term improvement.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An Amtrak Acela
Railby StaffFebruary 26, 2026

Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal

Under the plan, all long-distance routes will transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.

Read More →
A TriMet MAX Light Rail vehicle overhead shot
Railby StaffFebruary 24, 2026

STV Finalizes Design for First Phase of TriMet MAX Blue Line Substation Upgrades

The milestone is a significant step toward modernizing the MAX Blue Line’s power infrastructure, one of the oldest components of the region’s light rail system.

Read More →
HDR rendering of LA to Coachella Valley Rail Project
Railby StaffFebruary 20, 2026

HDR Selected to Advance LA–Coachella Valley Rail Corridor Project

The firm will lead the Tier 2 environmental review program for the Coachella Valley Rail Corridor, including the conceptual and preliminary engineering needed to develop project-level environmental clearance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rendering of Austin Transit Partnership's light rail line.
Railby StaffFebruary 19, 2026

Contractor Chosen to Help Build Austin Light Rail

The ATP board’s approval of ARC enables ATP to begin pre-construction activities and advance final design for Austin Light Rail under the first phase of what will be a multibillion-dollar contract.

Read More →