Author: Batrak Oleksandr — Editor-in-Chief at Railway Supply

Portland Streetcar new vehicles are set to be built by CAF USA. Portland, Ore., selected the manufacturer to supply 15 replacement streetcars for the local system. The order will replace vehicles nearing the end of their useful service life. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Portland Streetcar names CAF USA for 15 replacements
Portland Streetcar names CAF USA for 15 replacements

Portland Streetcar new vehicles for fleet replacement

The city’s Bureau of Transportation said the new fleet will use hybrid battery technology. It is planned for the NS Line expansion to Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland. The order is tied both to fleet replacement and to the off-wire needs of the NS Line extension, as the Montgomery Park Streetcar Extension project page notes. The agency said the extension will include off-wire streetcar service. That will be new to the Portland Streetcar network. It is also meant to improve reliability across the rest of the system.

“CAF USA is thrilled to be a part of making history by entering a partnership with the Portland Streetcar system,” said CAF USA Marketing and Business Development Vice President Jitendra Tomar. “The system is a landmark for modern streetcars in the United States.”

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CAF USA will build the streetcars at its manufacturing facility in Elmira, N.Y. The company said it has delivered rail vehicles around the world. It has previously produced modern streetcars for Cincinnati, Kansas City, Mo. and Omaha, Neb.

Hybrid battery-equipped streetcars for the NS Line

“We look forward to moving ahead with negotiating the specifics of design and engineering for these new streetcars,” said Portland Streetcar Executive Director Dan Bower. “Replacing 25-year-old vehicles with brand new streetcars will be an improvement in the comfort, safety and reliability riders can expect and sets the stage for the next 30 years of success.”

Portland Streetcar said the vendor selection moves the project into the next phase. That phase covers vehicle specifications, cost, delivery timeline and related details. Representatives of the city of Portland, Portland Streetcar and CAF USA began negotiating those elements in early April, according to Portland Streetcar.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to serve the great city of Portland to deliver reliable and safe transportation with our URBOS streetcars,” said CAF USA CEO Felix Fernandez. “They are dependable and proven in service all around the world with modern amenities for riders, and we will incorporate unique features for Portland such as off-wire capability to run on battery technology where needed.”

CAF USA streetcar vehicles to replace original fleet

The incoming CAF USA streetcar vehicles will replace Portland’s original modern streetcars built in the Czech Republic. They entered service in 2001 and are nearing the end of their useful operating life, as Railway Supply notes. The agency also said a few other vehicles in the fleet need replacement because of age or damage.

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