Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has selected Stadler to supply the light rail vehicles for the city’s first light rail line.
The ATP Board approved the award of a fixed-price contract covering the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery of 21 light rail vehicles. The agreement also includes design coordination with the teams developing the wider light rail network and its operations and maintenance facility.
Stadler was selected following a competitive procurement process that assessed factors including technical capability, previous experience, personnel qualifications and design approach.
Greg Canally, Chief Executive Officer of Austin Transit Partnership, said:ATP is excited to have Stadler join the Austin Light Rail team to design a vehicle with features never before delivered in the United States. The action today demonstrates our commitment to build a light rail system that is right for Austin as ATP advances toward construction in 2027.
The contract concludes one of the major procurements identified in ATP’s delivery plan and supports the project’s target of beginning construction in 2027.
Stadler CITYLINK Vehicles
The fleet will be based on Stadler’s CITYLINK platform, a low-floor light rail vehicle already in operation on tram-train and light rail networks in Europe. The design selected for Austin will be adapted to meet local operational requirements.
Each vehicle will accommodate approximately 240 passengers and include dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, bicycles, luggage and pushchairs. Most of the train will feature a continuous low-floor layout, allowing step-free movement through the passenger compartment and level boarding from station platforms.
Additional features include multiple passenger doors to reduce boarding times, large windows to improve visibility and natural light, and open interior layouts intended to maximise passenger circulation.
Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler North America, said:Stadler’s CITYLINK platform is setting a new benchmark—defining what the next generation of light rail vehicles can be in the United States. Together with Austin Transit Partnership, we are helping shape a new era of transit in Austin, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.
ATP has said that residents will have opportunities to influence elements of the vehicle’s interior and exterior design during the development phase, including colour schemes, seating layouts, accessibility features and passenger information systems.
Initial Funding Approved
The Board also authorised an initial work package worth 39 million USD to begin preliminary design activities for the project. The funding will come from existing Proposition A revenues while the project continues through the federal funding process.
The overall vehicle contract has a maximum value of 352 million USD, with future expenditure requiring additional Board approval.
Austin Light Rail is planned as a nearly 10-mile (16 km) route with 15 stations. The all-electric system is expected to operate services every five to ten minutes for much of the day and has been designed to allow future network expansion.
The Stadler contract follows a series of major procurements for the project, including appointments for programme delivery, civil engineering and systems design, as ATP continues preparations ahead of construction.
