PHOENIX — The first three trainsets from an order for Siemens S700 light rail vehicles are entering service this week on the Valley Metro system, Siemens and the Phoenix-area transit system said on Monday.
Seven of the 11 new trainsets have been delivered for the 28.2-mile, 38-station system serving Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe, Ariz. Manufacturing will begin early next year of an additional 14 of the S700 vehicles, ordered in 2020.
The equipment, built by Siemens in Sacramento, Calif., features high-capacity air conditioning capable of handling temperatures up to 120 degrees; a closed-circuit TV system allowing operators to monitor occupancy levels, passenger flow, and safety; and a new front-end bumper designed to minimize collision impact and damage.
“Adding new train fleet is a very important part of our light rail system expansion for today and in the near future when two new extensions open in Phoenix,” Scott Smith, Valley Metro CEO, said in a press release. “We appreciate the strong partnership that we have with Siemens Mobility as they incorporate the vehicle safety and comfort features that we’ve prioritized on our system.
The Siemens equipment joins 50 trainsets built by Kinki Sharyo that have served the Valley Metro operation since its launch in 2008.
