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4/20/2023
Rail News: Passenger Rail
GCRTA prefers Siemens for new rail-car contract; Metra buys digital monitors
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's board this week approved Siemens Mobility as the preferred vendor to replace the agency's aging rail-car fleet.
The approval initiates the process of contracting with Siemens Mobility for the purchase of 24 model S200 rail cars with the option to buy up to 36 more, GCRTA officials said in a press release. The new cars will be modeled after a fleet now in use at Calgary Transit in Alberta, Canada. The authority’s budget for the purchase is $393 million.
The S200 model will feature high floors with two-door heights for high- and low-level platform accessibility; advanced infotainment systems; a modern operator cab area with dedicated HVAC unit and heated windshield; ice-cutter pantographs; and 52 passenger seats per car with four wheelchair areas and two bicycle racks.
Meanwhile, Chicago commuter railroad Metra yesterday awarded a contract to Global Display Solutions Inc. to install weatherproof LCD monitors at all 242 Metra stations, plus two more currently under construction.
The new monitors will replace outdated scrolling LED signs, Metra officials said in a press release. The displays will be similar to demonstration signs already in place at eight stations, including Van Buren St., McCormick Place and Healy.
The installation is scheduled to take place over the next three years, with the busiest stations receiving up to 10 signs and the least busy stations receiving up to three signs, Metra officials said.
Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.