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12/21/2022
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) recently began operating the first of 14 new fourth-generation light-rail vehicles (LRVs) that will be added to the Houston agency's fleet over time.
The new LRV entered service on the 13-mile METRORail Red Line, which runs between the Northline Transit Center and Fannin South Station. Major stops along the line include downtown stations, Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park/Houston Zoo, Texas Medical Center and NRG Park.
Siemens Mobility is manufacturing the 14 S70 low-floor LRVs. The vehicles feature open seating and nearly four feet of aisle space to improve passenger flow and better accommodate wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles. The addition of the new vehicle marks the fourth procurement of LRVs since METRO opened the Red Line in 2004 with 18 cars.
The S70 LRVs must complete an extensive qualification and safety process that requires 1,000 miles of running time before they enter service, METRO officials said in a press release.