Erlangen, Germany – Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) is to deliver 26 SD 160 type light rail vehicles to the Canadian city of Edmonton in the province of Alberta. The order is worth around 70 million euros. This two-section high-floor LRV has a seating capacity of 60 and standing room for 170 passengers. The three-phase AC drives ensure a maximum speed of 88 km/h. These LRVs are based on a steel construction and are 24.8 meters long and 2.6 meters wide. They will be built at the Siemens Transportation Systems plant in Sacramento, California. Delivery is scheduled to begin in May 2008 and will be completed by the end of 2009.

The light rail vehicles for Edmonton will be given a new exterior and interior design along with a revised roof construction. Each of them will be equipped with a vehicle diagnostics system, a passenger information system (PIS) and an optimized CCTV surveillance system. The improved side-wall heating system and air conditioning ensure enhanced passenger comfort.

Edmonton’s rail transit system extends over a total length of 12 km and serves four stations at grade and six underground. Thirty-seven Siemens/Duewag type U2 units delivered from 1978 to 1983 are already transporting 42,000 passengers daily. The city of Edmonton plans to double this number by the end of 2009. This will be achieved both by adding the new LRVs just ordered and by the expanding the existing network by 8 track kilometers.

In North America, the SD 160 is already operating in the cities of Calgary, Denver and Salt Lake City. In December 2004, the transit authority of Calgary, Canada, placed a follow-up order with Siemens TS for the supply of 33 light rail vehicles of this type.