Stadler wins first US LRV contract

The Swiss company Stadler, that has a US manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, UT, has won its first light rail rolling stock contract for a US operator and its first order for this type of car outside Europe. The Utah Transit Authority Board has approved a USD 129M contract for 20 Citylink LRVs, with an option for up to 60 more, in accordance with Buy America regulations, and with delivery starting in 2028. Part funding will come from the Federal Transit Administration. They will be used on the TRAX light rail system serving Salt Lake City. 

 

The TRAX system started operations on its first line in December 1999, and has grown to three lines over 72.1km with 51 stations carrying over 11M passengers in 2023 (and 2024 patronage looks to be up by 17%). Existing LRVs comprise 117 cars from Siemens, 23 SD100, 17 SD160 and 77 S70. 

 

Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler US Inc, said 'Salt Lake City is our home in the U.S., and the opportunity to build trains for our community is a massive honor. Most of our workforce and their families live in and around Salt Lake City and will ride these new trains, so the excitement can be felt throughout our entire facility today. We are thrilled to partner with UTA as they modernise their TRAX network to provide a state-of-the-art public transit system built by Utahns for Utahns. 

 

UTA Executive Director Jay Fox said, 'After a competitive and comprehensive procurement process, Stadler was selected for UTA’s next generation of TRAX vehicles, offering a low-floor, all accessible boarding that will comfortably carry 14% more passengers than our current fleet.