TriMet unveils new light-rail vehicle for Portland-Milwaukie route

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) yesterday unveiled the next generation of light-rail trains for its Portland-Milwaukie project.

The agency previewed the first Type 5 model of light-rail vehicle at its Ruby Junction rail yard in Greshan, where riders were able to tour the vehicle. TriMet is purchasing 18 of the cars as part of the  project, also known as the MAX Orange Line.

Siemens designed and manufactured the S70 light-rail vehicles at the company's Sacramento, Calif., plant. The train is designed to improve passenger safety and comfort, Siemens officials said in a press release. New features include seating arrangements with extra foot room, better access through the car's center and additional wheelchair accessibility.

Also, the HVAC systems now include fresh air dampers that automatically adjust based on the number of people in the vehicle, keeping compartments more comfortable for riders and increasing the HVAC system’s efficiency, according to Siemens.

In addition, the vehicles include better sight lines, more ergonomically designed main cabins, and larger displays for train operators to better monitor the vehicle’s status to improve safety and efficiency.

All new trains are scheduled to arrive at TriMet by April 2015, agency officials said in a press release. The first two trains will undergo a 4,000-mile "burn-in" testing period before they enter service, they said. The remaining 16 vehicles will go through a 1,000-mile burn-in testing period.
The 7.3-mile Portland-Milwaukie light-rail line is the region's sixth MAX construction project.