Metro Transit rolling stock
The opening of the
Light rail
The Twin Cities region has two active light rail lines, the
Type I LRVs
Metro Transit placed its order for
The first light rail vehicle for the Blue Line arrived in Minneapolis in March 2003,[5] and testing of it along the first completed section of the line was underway by June 2003.[6] The line opened on June 26, 2004, with 14 of the 24 Bombardier Flexity Swift LRVs accepted and available for service by then,[7] and all 24 had entered service by the end of the year. In January 2007, the Metropolitan Council announced that three additional vehicles would be purchased, for a total of 27 LRVs on the line.[8]
The Blue Line's Type I LRVs are numbered sequentially from 101 through 127. The Flexity Swift vehicle is an articulated design with three car-body sections, referred to as the A, B and C sections. The markings on the ends of LRVs indicate the vehicle number and section. For example, car 114 is marked 114A on one end and 114B on the other end. Vehicle numbers are also displayed (excluding the section letter) on the sides of the C section, on the doors of the operator cabs and on the roof of the vehicle. Both ends of the vehicle have operator cabs, allowing trains of any length to be operated normally in either direction without the need to turn the train around. The
Type II LRVs
In 2010, the Metropolitan Council negotiated a contract with
The initial order had a per-LRV cost of $3,297,714 and a total contract value of $153,211,516.[12] Following the option order, the contract grew to $213 million. The vehicles are being built at Siemens’ facility in Florin, California, near Sacramento.[13] The first vehicle, numbered 201, arrived in September 2012 and underwent some initial testing before being officially unveiled at an event at Target Field on October 10. The first two vehicles had an extended testing period, entering revenue service around the start of 2013.[11]
Forty options remained available, for potential use once the Green Line's southwest extension received funding. Five additional Siemens S70 cars were ordered in October 2015.[14] The first car of this small order arrived in September 2017[15] and the last later in the fall of 2017, bringing the total number of type II LRVs to 64.[16]
The Blue Line's original first-generation fleet of 27
The type II LRVs weigh 50 tons (100,000 lb or 45.4 t), which is about 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) lighter than the earlier Bombardier units. The cars have improved heating systems and better sound insulation to provide a quieter ride. They also feature
Type III LRVs
In 2016, Metro Transit placed an order for 27 more Siemens S70
Specifications
Model | Type I LRVs LF-70 ( Flexity Swift )
|
Type II LRVs S70 |
Type III LRVs S700[a] (on order) |
---|---|---|---|
Fleet numbers | 101–127 | 201–264 | 301–327 |
Manufacturer | Bombardier | Siemens | |
Build location | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Sacramento, California | |
Length per car | 93 ft 11+15⁄16 in (28.65 m) | 94.3 ft (28,700 mm) | |
Width | 8 ft 8+5⁄16 in (2.65 m) | ||
Empty weight | 48.5 t (107,000 lb) | 46.7 t (103,000 lb) | 46.5 t (103,000 lb) |
Body shell material | Aluminum alloy | Steel | |
Line voltage | Overhead line, 750 V DC | ||
Traction | Toshiba 2-level IGBT–VVVF 190 hp (140 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor (totally enclosed/outer-fan cooling) |
Siemens 2-level IGBT–VVVF 170 hp (130 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor (totally enclosed/self-ventilating) | |
Maximum speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) | 59 mph (95 km/h) |
Notes
Operations
Since the completion of three-car station extensions in winter 2010, Metro Transit operates one-, two- and three- car trains on the Blue Line, depending on the time of day and ridership needs. Many stations on the line were initially built to be capable of serving only one- or two-car trains, as a cost-saving measure; all of the shorter platforms were designed and built with future extension in mind, and currently all stations are capable of serving three-car trains. The Green Line was built with three-car platforms at all stations.
The number of LRVs in the first-generation fleet limited three-car operations during peak rush hours, as 27 cars did not allow operation of high frequencies with longer trains. In spring and summer 2010, three-car trains were only used for special event service, such as Twins games, when lower off-peak frequencies allow operation of longer trains to meet demand. Metro Transit continued operating two-car trains during the morning and evening rush hours until September 2010, when they began operating some 3-car trains during rush hour. However, this required a reduction in frequency so trains would arrive every 10 minutes rather than every 7–8 minutes (though some 2-car service remains at the old frequency).[24] The arrival of Type II LRVs began to allow 3-car trains at high frequencies in 2013.
Maintenance facilities
The Blue Line's Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) is located between the
Commuter rail
The Twin Cities region currently has one heavy-rail commuter line, the Northstar Line. Though others are planned, none has advanced beyond alternatives analysis at this time.
Locomotives
The
Around the time the line began service in November 2009, it was announced that a negotiations were underway with the Utah Transit Authority to acquire a sixth locomotive from their FrontRunner service.[27] This locomotive arrived in December 2009. By June, Metro Transit decided to purchase the UTA locomotive due to high leasing costs and the need to have an extra locomotive for when others are being repaired or inspected. $2.85 million for buying the locomotive and repainting it in Northstar livery came from a $10.1 million contingency fund built into the original cost of the service.[28]
# | Model | Delivery | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
501–505, 512 | MP36PH-3C | 2008–2009 | 503 and 504 seen in the 200th episode of Dirty Jobs, "Locomotive Builder"; 504 was briefly operated by Mike Rowe.;[29] 512 was originally built as Utah Transit Authority #12 for their FrontRunner service, though it never ran in revenue service there. Leased to Metro Transit starting in December 2009,[30] it was intended to be purchased the following summer,[28] though that deal initially fell through. The Metropolitan Council successfully tried again in 2011,[31] appearing in Northstar colors and renumbered 512 in October 2012.[32] |
Passenger coaches
Northstar currently utilizes eighteen
# | Model | Delivery | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
601–606 | Bi-Level VII coach (cab car)
|
2008-2009 | |
701–712 | Bi-Level VII coach |
Consists
Five trains are used during a typical day's operations, each consisting of a single locomotive, two or three regular coaches and a cab car coach. The extra locomotive and coach are available for backup if needed. Northstar platforms were built long enough to accommodate trains of five coaches, which were used for some weekend trains in the early weeks of service.
Maintenance
The maintenance facility for the Northstar Line is located just east of the station in Big Lake, Minnesota.
References
- ^ ISSN 1460-8324.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit, March 2003 issue, p. 108.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit, May 2002 issue, p. 185.
- ^ "FLEXITY Swift – Minneapolis, USA". Bombardier. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit, June 2003 issue, p. 227.
- ^ "Minneapolis: First Car Runs on Hiawatha Light Rail Starter Line". Light Rail Now. June 29, 2003. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
- ^ Tramways & Urban Transit, August 2004 issue, p. 308.
- ^ "Passenger capacity to grow on Hiawatha line". Metropolitan Council. January 2007. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- ^ "Passenger capacity to grow on Hiawatha line" (PDF). Toshiba. August 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
- ^ "FTA Signs Agreement to Fund Central Corridor". Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Rich Rovaag, Mark Fuhrmann (August 13, 2012). "Light Rail Vehicle Type 2 Procurement" (PDF). Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Transportation Committee Business Item 2010-275" (PDF). Metropolitan Council. July 30, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ Kevin Giles (August 25, 2010). "Central Corridor contracts awarded". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on August 29, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Vantuono, William C. (October 12, 2015). "Denver, Twin Cities adding to Siemens LRV fleets". Railway Age. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "Minutes of the regular meeting of the Transportation Committee". Minneapolis–St. Paul: Metropolitan Council. October 9, 2017. p. 2. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- ^ "Minutes of the regular meeting of the Transportation Committee". Minneapolis–St. Paul: Metropolitan Council. January 8, 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- ^ "Transportation Committee Meeting July 26, 2010". Metropolitan Council. July 26, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ "Fast Facts about Central Corridor LRT vehicles" (PDF). Metropolitan Council. October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ ISSN 1460-8324.
- ^ "Twin Cities' Metropolitan Council Chooses Siemens to Provide New Light Rail Vehicles". Mass Transit. October 28, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "Southwest LRT Project Update". Metropolitan Council. May 13, 2020. p. 6. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ISSN 1460-8324.
- ISSN 0160-6913.
- ^ "These routes changed Sept. 11". Metro Transit. 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- ^ "Progress is visible on Northstar commuter-rail line; project is on time and budget for service in late 2009 - October 2008 Metropolitan Council newsletter article". Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ^ "TwinCitiesRailfan.com • View topic – Northstar MP36 deliveries". twincitiesrailfan.com.
- ^ "Ready to roll, train officials say". Star Tribune. November 15, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ^ a b Peter Bodley (June 2, 2010). "Sixth locomotive to be purchased for Northstar". Coon Rapids Herald. ABC Newspapers. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
- ^ "MEGAVIDEO - I'm watching it". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- ^ "Northstar ridership below Metro Transit goals". Star Tribune. December 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- ^ "Amendment of Business Item 2010-201, Northstar" (PDF). Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee. August 18, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ Matt Petersen (October 7, 2012). "MNRX 512". RRPictureArchives.NET. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Northstar Commuter Rail Extension Feasibility Assessment; Appendix A" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation and Quandel Consultants. July 31, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2023.