Siemens Mobility has been selected to deliver 55 S200 high-floor light rail vehicles (LRVs) to Metro Transit in St. Louis.
This contract has been awarded by Bi-State Development, which operates Metro Transit. It will see Siemens Mobility design and manufacture 55 new hybrid battery S200 units to replace the agency’s oldest light rail vehicles.
Metro Transit currently operates 87 Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 light rail vehicles first ordered in 1990. Its oldest vehicles are now at the end of their lifecycle and will thus be replaced with new models to enhance comfort, reliability and sustainability.
The new LRVs will feature onboard energy storage systems to enable the vehicles to operate without a catenary line for up to 5 miles. This will be the second time in the US that onboard energy storage batteries will be featured on a Siemens LRV. The first implementation occurred in Charlotte on Siemens’ S700 vehicles that were delivered from August 2021.
“We are grateful to Bi-State Development for this fantastic order and for their continued confidence in Siemens Mobility. We are excited to deliver these new state-of-the-art light rail vehicles, with our Onboard Energy Storage System, which will enhance operational flexibility, resiliency and convenience.
“The first of these vehicles will replace the first vehicle ever produced at our current location in Sacramento, more than thirty years ago, a great experience I remember fondly.”
The S200 LRVs have been designed with comfortable and spacious interiors and large windows to enhance the passenger experience. This also enables strollers, wheelchairs and bikes to move around easily inside.
In addition, the vehicles have an interactive GPS mapping display, making it easier for passengers to see their location real time.
The new fleet will be manufactured in Sacramento, California at Siemens Mobility’s North American Rolling Stock headquarters. This facility builds Buy America-compliant LRVs, coaches, locomotives and trainsets for over 35 transit agencies in the US.
“Our MetroLink fleet has kept our region moving for more than 30 years. This is a rolling testament to the skill of our MetroLink maintenance team and the tremendous quality of these Siemens vehicles. As we look to the next generation of transit, we are grateful to have such a talented supplier manufacturing vehicles here in the USA.”
The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners approved this 390.4 million USD contract on 29 November 2o23. It has now been signed by both parties.
