PITTSBURGH light rail operator Port Authority Transit started test running last month on its 8·8 km Overbrook line, following a 10-year closure for rebuilding from tram to light rail standards.
A diesel-hauled test train ran on September 15, after which the overhead line was energised to permit trial running from mid-October. PAT had hoped to restore revenue services before the end of this year, but has now set a target date of June 2004.
The end of October was also expected to see the delivery from Spain of the first of 28 new LRVs. These were ordered from CAF USA Inc under a $151m contract which includes a mid-life refurbishment of PAT’s 55 U3 cars supplied by Siemens in 1984-86.
