USA: Phoenix’s Valley Metro Rail board has approved two orders for trams and light rail vehicles to support ridership growth and expansion of the network.
Brookville Equipment Corp is to receive a $33m contract to deliver six trams over three years for the 4·8 km Tempe Streetcar project. These will be equipped with batteries for off-wire operation.
Siemens Industry is to be awarded a contract worth an estimated $57·9m covering the supply of 11 S70 light rail vehicles over seven years, with an option for the purchase of up to 67 more.
The new vehicles are needed to handle anticipated growth in ridership on the current 42 km route, as well as the expansion of services which will follow the opening of the Gilbert Road extension in 2019 and several other extensions which are planned for completion by 2026 as part of a programme to create a 106 km network by 2034.
Valley Metro will also be expanding the depot facilities to support the additional vehicles.
