Sound Transit places first of new Siemens LRVs in service
Sound Transit has placed the first of its new Siemens light rail vehicles in service, part of an order that will more than triple the agency’s fleet. A total of 152 vehicles, from two orders totaling will be delivered from Siemens’ plant in Sacramento through 2024 as the Link light rail system gears up for a series of expansions, the first set to open in October. The first of the cars was delivered in June 2019 and went through more than 1,000 miles of testing; subsequent cars have been tested for more than 300 miles. The cars feature more bike racks, larger windows, 70 seats, and space to store luggage. “These new cars will increasingly become the mainstay of our Link light rail fleet, improving our riders’ experiences as service expands north to Northgate and Lynnwood, south to Federal Way and east to Bellevue and Redmond,” Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff said in a press release.
Metra expands Bike Car program to Rock Island, BNSF lines
Metra has expanded its Bike Car program as of Saturday, May 15, adding cars to trains on the Rock Island District and the BNSF Line. Two of the cars will be operating on the Rock Island and one on the BNSF, and will be available both weekdays and weekends. The Rock Island schedule is available here; the BNSF schedule is here. The modified gallery cars remove the seating from one half of the lower level to create room for 16 bicycles instead of the five that can be accommodated on Metra’s accessible railcars. The new cars join two in service on the Milwaukee District North Line and are easily identified by their blue and gray paint scheme. “The Bike Cars we introduced late last year have been well-received by the cycling community, encouraging us to move forward and expand the amenity to other lines,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “The expanded availability of Bike Cars will make the region more accessible and encourage cyclists to explore the trails and communities along our rail lines.”
Austin MetroRail to resume Saturday service May 29
Saturday commuter rail service will resume on Capital Metro’s Red Line between Austin, Texas, and Leander as of May 29, KUT-FM reports. Saturday service, which had been suspended for more than a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will operate from 10 a.m. until just after midnight. Capital Metro Chief Operation Officer Dottie Watkins told the station the agency had been hearing from customers “that they were interested in seeing the return of Saturday MetroRail service. … We’re very excited.” A CapMetro press release reports special service will also be offered for games of FC Austin, the city’s Major League Soccer team, as well as a June 16 game featuring the U.S. women’s national team.
