Portland Streetcar new vehicles are set to be built by CAF USA. The company was selected on 8 April 2026 to supply 15 vehicles for the system.

CAF USA to build streetcars for Portland NS Line expansion
CAF USA will manufacture and deliver 15 new vehicles for use on the Portland Streetcar system
© Steve Morgan

Portland Streetcar new vehicles for NS Line expansion

The order is tied to the NS Line expansion to Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland. The new cars will use hybrid battery-electric equipment. They will run on a new off-wire portion of the Portland Streetcar system. In addition, the order also covers the replacement of older vehicles. According to Portland Streetcar, the City of Portland Bureau of Transportation awarded the contract. Meanwhile, the off-wire service is planned as an entirely new element. It forms part of the broader expansion project.

Jitendra Tomar, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for CAF USA, said:

“CAF USA is thrilled to be a part of making history by entering a partnership with the Portland Streetcar system.

The system is a landmark for modern streetcars in the United States.”

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CAF USA moves to the next project phase

CAF USA will build the new streetcars in Elmira, New York. The work will take place at its railcar manufacturing facility. As reported by Railway News, the company previously delivered streetcars. Those vehicles later entered service in Kansas City, Cincinnati and Omaha.

CAF USA has now been formally selected. The project can now move into the next phase. That stage will determine vehicle specifications, cost, delivery timeline and other critical elements. Negotiations are due to begin in early April. Separately, representatives from the City of Portland, Portland Streetcar, Inc. and CAF are due to take part.

Fleet replacement for older Portland streetcars

The incoming vehicles will replace Portland’s original Czech-built modern streetcar fleet. It entered service in 2001. It is nearing the end of its operating lifecycle. Also, a few other vehicles will be replaced because of age or damage.

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