USA: The Arizona capital has introduced 14 three-section, bidirectional LRVs into service on its 8.8 km Line B, featuring eight stations. During peak hours, the trams operate at 12-minute intervals.
Each vehicle can accommodate 260 passengers, 62 of them seated, and reach a maximum operation speed of 88 km/h. The interior includes four wheelchair spaces and six bicycle racks. The cars have four double-leaf doors per side and are fitted with four 130 kW traction motors each.
The framework contract to supply up to 78 trams was signed with the city’s transport operator Valley Metro in 2017. An initial firm order for 11 units was followed by the 2020 exercised option for 14 additional LRVs. While contract value remains undisclosed, all manufacturing complied with Buy America requirements at Siemens’ Sacramento facility, with deliveries concluded last year.
