Siemens lands San Francisco LRV contract

Siemens will build the LRVs at its Sacramento, Calif., plant. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered at the end of 2016. Three carbody designs (pictured) have been proposed; one will be selected by SFMTA with input from the public.

The order, anticipated since last July, will essentially replace San Francisco’s current fleet of Breda light rail vehicles, as well as cover service for the Central Subway extension of the T Line, now under construction. The current order is funded from federal, state, and local sources out of the Central Subway project budget.

The S200-SF is a newly-developed high-floor (with street-level accessibility) LRV for San Francisco based on the Siemens Model S200. The car is described as “especially energy-efficient thanks to a lightweight drive system with electrodynamic (regenerative) braking, and an LED lighting system that uses up to 40% less electricity than standard neon lighting.” The 75-foot (length over couplers), 11.5-foot-high (pantograph locked down), 104.3-inch-wide, 39.4-ton (empty weight) vehicle features a 50-mph maximum operating speed and capacity for 60 seated passengers (203 with standees), plus room for up to four bicycles or wheelchairs. Four traction motors generate 696 hp, drawing power for the LRV’s Siemens IGBT propulsion system from 600 v.d.c. catenary. The minimum turning radius is 42 feet, 7 inches (standard-gauge track); maximum operating grade is 9%.

“With this contract, Siemens secures its position as the U.S. market leader in this segment,” said Jochen Eickholt, global head of Siemens Rail Systems. “One-third of all streetcars or LRVs operating in the U.S. today comes from Siemens. This order marks a milestone for Siemens in the history of our U.S. business. With our rail vehicles made in the U.S., we have delivered more than 1,300 streetcars and LRVs in 17 cities across North America to date.”