Stadler Unveils First FLIRT Train for the TEXRail Commuter Line

Stadler and the Texas-based Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) will introduce the first FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity- and Regional Train) for the TEXRail commuter line at APTA Expo 2017, the showcase for public transportation in the USA.

The contract for delivery of eight FLIRT trains was signed in June 2015. The multiple unit trains, which are powered by diesel-electric propulsion (DMU), will soon be used for travel on the TEXRail line between Fort Worth and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

This is the first time that Stadler has sold one of its FLIRT trains in the USA.

TEXRail FLIRT
TEXRail FLIRT © Stadler

Stadler’s FLIRT Train

FLIRT is Stadler’s success story, with more than 1,400 units of the modular articulated train in service worldwide. This explains why Stadler is especially pleased to be able to put the first eight FLIRT trains into operation in the USA. Together with the FWTA, Stadler will be presenting the first vehicle produced for TEXRail to the public at APTA EXPO 2017. The first US FLIRT train with its centrally located power module meets the AVT requirements (Alternative Vehicle Technology) of the Federal Railroad Administration as well as those of Buy America. The FLIRT trains for the FWTA were built mainly in the leased Stadler plant in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Paul Ballard, president/CEO of FWTA, said:

“We are excited to bring these sleek rail cars to Fort Worth and Dallas”

“We have been viewing the many stages of manufacturing and completion, and we could not be more pleased. APTA EXPO visitors are in for a real treat.”

Peter Spuhler, Group CEO and owner of Stadler, says:

“We are proud to be able to present our best seller for the first time in the USA today in association with the FWTA, and are convinced that the FLIRT trains, which are built in the USA, will cut a fine figure in Big Sky Texas, and offer passengers in and around Fort Worth a new level of travel comfort.”

New Commuter Trains for TEXRail

The eight FLIRT trains fulfil the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The wide front doors and spacious lower floor area make it easy for passengers to board and disembark. Each train comes equipped with 224 seats with side tables and USB ports as well as an ADA toilet, thereby meeting the various convenience requirements of passengers. The train’s ergonomic driver’s cabin, intuitive design and smartly arranged control panels provide onboard personnel with a modern and comfortable workplace. The new FLIRT trains are scheduled to become a part of TEXRail’s commercial fleet in December 2018.

The new commuter trains for TEXRail have been designed to reach maximum speeds of 81 mph (130 km/hour) and boast a coupled length of 266 feet (81.1 metres) each. Each of the diesel-electric FLIRT trains is equipped with two Deutz TCD 16.0 V8 520 kW diesel motors and complies with the EPA Tier 4 Final emission standards.

Stadler Extends its Reach to Silicon Valley

The FLIRT trains for TEXRail will become part of an entire fleet of vehicles in the United States: Stadler’s latest U.S. contract involves an order for 16 six-car, electrical, double-decker multiple units for the California commuter rail project, Caltrain. The contract, which was signed in August 2016 in San Mateo, California, includes an option for another 96 double-decker multiple units, and is valued at a total of $551 million. These new, high-performance, double-decker multiple units have been built to seat a maximum number of passengers, and will run between San Francisco and San José in Silicon Valley. The first Stadler double-decker train will be delivered to the USA in August 2019 and put into commercial use in 2020 after having passed all the required testing.

In 2002, Stadler secured its first order for 20 articulated multiple units (GTW) for the New Jersey Transit River Line. Since then, it received an order from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CMTA) from Austin, Texas for 6 diesel articulated multiple units to run between the Austin city centre and Leander, Texas. The trains were delivered in the spring of 2008, and an additional order was placed in 2015 for 4 more trains. Stadler also obtained an order from the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) to design and manufacture 11 GTW diesel multiple units. These low-floor trains have been serving 6 stations in the Denton County region in Texas since 2012. In April 2014, San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) commissioned Stadler to supply them with 8 diesel articulated multiple units to service the connection between the Pittsburgh/Bay Point terminus and Antioch, which will be operational in 2017.

Original article © Stadler Rail.

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