M-1 Rail receives first QLINE streetcar

Detroit's M-1 Rail today will take delivery of the first streetcar for the QLINE route.

The unit will arrive nearly two months ahead of initial projections, M-1 Rail officials said in a press release.

QLINE is on schedule to begin passenger operations in spring 2017.

"Receiving the first QLINE streetcar at this time will provide M-1 RAIL a greater opportunity to help Detroiters acclimate to the idea of sharing the road with a streetcar, and give us additional time for driver training," said M-1 Rail Chief of Operations Paul Childs.

Brookville Equipment Corp. is providing the vehicle. The company is the only maker of streetcars to design and manufacture exclusively in the United States, according to M-1 Rail.

The three-piece QLINE streetcars are each 66 feet long and will carry an average of 125 passengers per car. The units will share the road with drivers and can travel at speeds up to 35 mph.

The cars also will feature Wi-Fi access for passengers, vertical bike racks and heating and cooling systems.