TriMet Type 6 MAX train marks new era for MAX fleet

TriMet Type 6 MAX train deliveries have now reached the finish line: Oregon’s regional public transit agency has taken receipt of the last Type 6 MAX light-rail vehicle in its order, a milestone described in TriMet’s own news release as part of its largest fleet modernisation effort in more than two decades.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Siemens-built S700 unit rolled into the Ruby Junction Rail Operations Facility on 20 November, completing the 30-train procurement noted by Railway Pro and moving the wider TriMet fleet modernisation plan forward.

TriMet Type 6 MAX train rollout and testing

The first Type 6 trainset entered passenger service in January 2025, a step also highlighted by Railway Supply. Since then, 22 trains have already been deployed, and the new vehicles already make up roughly 15% of the entire MAX fleet. The final Siemens S700 train will first spend several weeks in dynamic testing, logging more than 3,000 miles out of service before it is cleared to join regular operations next year.

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TriMet Chief Operations Officer Inessa Vitko has called the arrival of the last Type 6 MAX light-rail vehicle “a major step toward a new era for our MAX system.” In her words, the Siemens S700 trains represent an investment in the region’s shared future, intended to carry riders safely and reliably while also reducing the time and money the agency spends on maintaining its fleet.

Replacing ageing Type 1 vehicles with Siemens S700 trains

The Type 6 MAX light-rail vehicles are being phased in specifically to replace the original Type 1 cars, which have been in service since 1986 and are now approaching 40 years of operation. For these ageing Type 1 vehicles, many components are no longer available from suppliers, so maintenance teams have to fabricate parts in-house or recover them from units that have already been retired. Some Type 1 cars have accumulated more than 2 million miles over their lifetimes, underscoring why a modern replacement fleet is needed.

The new Type 6 Siemens S700 trains, by contrast, are fitted with contemporary diagnostic and maintenance systems that automatically alert technicians when issues begin to appear. This helps prevent failures in service and keeps maintenance costs down. For passengers, the vehicles bring visible upgrades such as LED interior lighting, digital passenger information screens and 360-degree internal CCTV coverage, combining improved comfort with enhanced security on board.

Infrastructure upgrades and long-term MAX reliability

TriMet expects each Type 6 train to stay in service for roughly 30 years or longer. Their rollout is taking place alongside a broader programme of infrastructure improvements across the MAX network that is designed to support long-term reliability. In 2024, the agency completed the multi-year Better Red MAX Red Line Extension and Improvements project and also finished works on older parts of the system, including installing new tensioning systems for overhead wires and fully renovating the NE 82nd Avenue MAX Station platform.

Although all 30 Type 6 MAX trains are now on the property, testing and commissioning of the remaining units will continue into next year. Once its trial period is finished, the final train, numbered 627, is expected to enter service across the Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow lines. As more of the Type 6 MAX light-rail vehicles replace older equipment, TriMet anticipates a noticeable improvement in reliability across the system.

Retired MAX cars and the Oregon Electric Railway Museum

TriMet will keep operating the ageing Type 1 fleet until every Type 6 vehicle has entered regular service. Most of the retired units will be sent for recycling as the Siemens S700 trains take over day-to-day operations.

One car, however, will be preserved: Type 1 vehicle 101 has been donated to the Oregon Electric Railway Museum in Brooks, Oregon, providing a permanent reminder of the original MAX fleet even as TriMet’s modernised rolling stock takes over day-to-day operations.

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