Making Transformative Change
INNOVATIVE LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES
The enduring partnership between Siemens Mobility and the City of Edmonton means progress for the city’s Light Rail Transit system.
1978 was a transformative year in Edmonton. It brought the Commonwealth Games to the city for 10 thrilling days in August that changed the character of Edmonton forever. And on April 22, 1978 – in time for the Commonwealth Games – the city saw 37 innovative Siemens U2 light rail vehicles (LRVs) go into service, transforming the framework of transit for generations of Edmontonians and visitors.
Edmonton’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, part of what is now called the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS), was born in 1978 with those 37 U2s from Siemens Mobility. Thirty years later, in 2008, the line was expanded and 57 of the latest vehicles from Siemens – the SD160 Next Generation LRV – went into service. In 2012, the 37 original Siemens U2s received an interior refresh and continued on as invaluable ETS workhorses, 15 years beyond their expected 30-year lifespan.
It pays to go with a champion
When the City of Edmonton began launching what became North America’s first light rail system, ETS turned to Siemens and the U2. Since then, ETS has been the longest customer of Siemens Mobility North America and is a valued partner in our success on this continent.
In fact, Siemens Mobility provides one out of every three LRVs in use in North America. And we keep people moving in places like Edmonton – one of the toughest climates and environments for LRVs – thanks to our market-leading engineering, close-working development partnerships with transit agencies and focus on the future.
We are also close to our North American customers. Since 1984, Siemens Mobility has manufactured LRVs in Sacramento, California at our 60-acre manufacturing campus that is solar powered and kept up to date with the latest technologies. It boasts full manufacturing capabilities, including design, engineering, testing, carshell, bogies, subassembly and final assembly. Sacramento also acts as our service hub. Importantly, our Canadian and U.S. service groups for Edmonton are in the same time zone as ETS.
S200: a high-floor LRV for the future
The Siemens S200 LRV leads the way in modern requirements for high-floor vehicles that are easy to use in traffic and for passengers to board. The S200 is electrically powered from an overhead wire system – a catenary – and operates at speeds up to 65 miles per hour and in multiple vehicle consists. It can carry up to 200 passengers in each vehicle.
The S200 represents all we have learned from manufacturing high-floor vehicles in the U.S. for 30 years and from other Siemens light rail projects around the world. Our latest LRV is a hybrid creation that combines industry-leading innovations with the best elements from both of our successful SD160 high-floor and S70 low-floor light rail platforms. The S200 provides ideal transit for travelers and the most effective way of decreasing automobiles on roadways, reducing CO2 emissions and improving commuter experience. It also easily withstands “free salt” on roadways in Calgary, where it is currently in use.
The S200:
- Is designed with ease of maintenance that minimizes turnaround times and includes service-proven features that make maintenance, cleaning and repairs easier. Simplified truck and tire maintenance and 10-year truck overhauls also reduce downtime.
- Meets the latest crash energy management (CEM) requirements, featuring front-end strength and a crumple zone for collision with large objects. Large operator windshield and cab side windows increase outside viewing range, for greater visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Incorporates smart technology, a remote diagnostic tool and rail remote service desk that gives the end user remote access to view active and historic vehicle fault data. Data is sent in real time when traveling on the alignment and at station platforms or vehicle staging locations. It also has interactive GPS mapping displays that show passengers their exact position on the route.
- Features an attractive appearance appropriate for the modern cityscape. It has a clean, spacious and well-lit interior that makes passengers comfortable as well as large safety glass windows and improved longitudinal seating. It meets Americans Disability Act (ADA) standards and is the industry’s only design to provide complete accessibility from end to end.
- Delivers peace of mind for passengers and operators, who know help is just a click away if needed. A fully integrated closed-circuit television system (CCTV) is the S200’s eyes, with high-definition, weather-resistant cameras that keep watch throughout each train, and a passenger communication system that is always on alert.
Working together on tomorrow’s answers
Siemens Mobility works hand-in-hand with transit agencies across North America to deliver advanced light rail service and revolutionize the everyday for cities and their residents. We can tailor our LRVs to meet the needs of passengers and our customer services and maintenance programs to meet the needs of agencies. Through close, long-term partnerships we’ve helped our customers expand and grow their service and create better places to live and a better tomorrow.