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METRO Welcomes New Train No. 201 to Fleet
Monday, October 15, 2012 4:53 PM  

Newest train to METRO's fleet - Siemens S70. Train No. 201.

This morning, METRO unveiled its newest train - No. 201 - at a press conference at the Rail Operations Center, making it the agency's first new train in almost a decade.

Gilbert Garcia, METRO board chairman, said the light-rail Siemens S70 represents a savings of almost a year's time in getting optimal service to our riders. METRO was able to do this by exercising a contract option with the Utah Transit Authority when it "piggybacked" in an inter-agency agreement to procure the light-rail cars from Siemens.

 "These units will help us offer timely and comfortable trips," said Garcia.

This train is the first of 19 light-rail trains METRO secured in an $83 million contract.

 George Greanias, METRO president & CEO, called it a great day for METRO.

"METRORail has a very busy fleet, which this year surpassed 90 million boardings. The new units will take the strain off those already in service and provide more flexibility to our current system," said Greanias.

Step inside, and you'll see more standing room and a bike rack that allows a passenger to secure his or her bike upright vertically. Each car will also be equipped with two designated wheelchair spaces. A knee-to-back seating arrangement and a big standing area, with extra hand straps and grab bars, maximize interior space, designed for about 200 passengers.

Train No. 201 is expected to be operational sometime after Jan. 1, said Scott Grogan, senior director of METRORail Service Delivery.  Purchasing these 19 Siemens cars would allow us to operate two-car trains all day on our Main Street line.

Click the video below to hear Greanias' comments this morning, along with a preview of the interior of the train.

 

<a href="http://blogs.ridemetro.org/images/write_on/101512_LRV201_Unveiling.wmv"><img src="/Themes/default/images/video.gif" border = "0" width="436" height="320"></a><br /><a href = "http://blogs.ridemetro.org/images/write_on/101512_LRV201_Unveiling.wmv">View Video</a><br />Format: wmv<br />Duration: 2:23

Posted by Mary Sit
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    • Comments

    DominicMazoch said:

    BIKE RACKS!  YES!  Will 101-118 be retrofitted?

    But the 101-118 cabs look better!

    # October 15, 2012 11:38 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Now, are there dancing poles in the aisles between the loading doors?

    # October 15, 2012 11:42 PM

    Tall Guy said:

    It is great that METRO is celebrating a new rolling stock, but what METRO needs is more track, and it needs it quickly.  Houston is in danger of choking itself off due to traffic congestion.  What happened to the plan for regional rail system.  We don't need high-speed rail to Dallas and Galveston (although it would be nice), we need a hub-and-spoke system that allows people to move in and out of the city quickly. Otherwise, the downtown businesses will follow Exxon and others out of downtown.  METRO needs to secure control over rail corridors into the city.  

    # October 16, 2012 8:29 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    "Purchasing these 19 Siemens cars would allow us to operate two-car trains all day on our Main Street line."

    Very cool!  Now people won't have to complain about crowded, one-car trains, nor have to let one pass by, if and when they really need to get on that train.  Great job, METRO!

    # October 16, 2012 9:59 AM

    David Crossley said:

    Seems odd, Chairman Garcia applauding rail cars as he leads the effort to get people to vote Yes on the referendum, which would effectively end rail expansion for at least 12 years, if not forever. And County Commission Steve Radack says it was Garcia's idea to ban Metro spending its additional sales tax revenue on rail for that period.

    # October 17, 2012 9:11 AM

    Steve Palmer said:

    "Purchasing these 19 Siemens cars would allow us to operate two-car trains all day on our Main Street line."

    I am very relieved to read this!

    Will the bike racks enable riders to bring bikes on the train during peak hours?

    # October 17, 2012 11:04 AM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Cedrio:

    Once you have two cars, then METRO will need three....

    Can't because of platform restrictions.  But this could cascade:  increased frequency!

    # October 17, 2012 10:32 PM

    Cedric Collins said:

    Dominic:

    METRO will be fine with just having two-car trains - not three.  Maybe once all of the new ones come in, they'll get rid of not letting bikes on trains during peak hours and have somebody enforce where they (the bike riders) need to be because quite frankly, they ARE in the way when they don't go to their designated spots on the train.

    # October 18, 2012 3:56 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Cedric:

    The other issue is that bikes are being parked at places of the LRT, which are also in the way.

    Now I would like B-cylcle to rent places near the LRT stations near Hermann Park.

    # October 19, 2012 10:09 PM
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