New Siemens LRVs for St. Louis
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Metro Transit, St. Louis, has awarded Siemens Mobility a $390.4 million contract for up to 55 new high-floor light rail vehicles—a base order of 24 plus options for up to 31 additional LRVs—to replace much of its original MetroLink fleet, also supplied by Siemens.
The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners approved the contract on Nov. 29 with Siemens for the new LRVs. The contract includes project management, support, testing, spare parts tools, and diagnostic equipment. The new vehicles are being funded, in part, by $196 million in federal funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier this year.
MetroLink currently operates 75 LRVs, of which more than 20 are 30 years old and have accumulated more than one million miles each. Fifteen vehicles of the existing fleet have topped the two-million-mile mark. “Many of Metro Transit’s MetroLink LRVs are operating well beyond the typical expected 25-year service life,” the agency said. “The new high-floor vehicles will operate within the existing MetroLink alignment, platform and facility infrastructure, which spans more than 46 miles and soon-to-be 39 stations throughout the region; and will be well-equipped for the St. Louis region’s ever-changing weather.”
Initially, 24 of the new LRVs will be placed in service in phases, with the first group of new cars expected to be in operation in the next few years. The contract includes an option for 31 additional LRVs.
“We are entrusted with the great responsibility of connecting people to opportunity,” said Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development. “These new vehicles are significant to ensuring the MetroLink system operates efficiently and continues to provide quality service to our customers across the region. Our existing fleet has lasted far longer than anticipated, a testament to the exceptional work performed by our MetroLink maintenance team over the past 30 years. We will continue to be good stewards of the public funds we receive and take great care of our new MetroLink fleet, so they can help the St. Louis region thrive for years to come.”
Siemens Mobility has been the exclusive provider of LRVs to MetroLink since the agency began operations 30 years ago.
