Siemens SD-100 and SD-160

Last updated
  • Siemens SD-100
  • Siemens SD-160
Denver RTD light rail train.jpg
RTD #101, the first SD-100 built, at I-25 & Broadway station in 2012
SD100 LRV Drawing.svg
Diagram of the Siemens SD100
In service1994–present
Manufacturer Siemens Mobility
Built at Florin, California
Constructed1992–2013
Entered service1995–present
Number built431
Successor
Capacity
  • 60 (seated)
  • 190 (maximum)
Operators
Specifications
Car length24.799 m (81 ft 4+38 in)
Width2,652 mm (8 ft 8+38 in)
Height3,780 mm (12 ft 4+78 in)
Floor height991 mm (3 ft 3 in)
Doors8 (4 per side)
Articulated sections1
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Weight40,370 kg (89,000 lb)
Traction motors 2 × 200 hp (150 kW)
4 × 194 hp (145 kW)
Acceleration 1.07 m/s2 (2.39 mph/s)
Deceleration 1.31 m/s2 (2.93 mph/s) (service)
2.63 m/s2 (5.88 mph/s) (emergency)
HVAC Roof-mounted air conditioning
Electric system(s) 600-750 V DC overhead lines
Current collector(s) Faiveley pantograph
UIC classification Bo’2Bo’
AAR wheel arrangement B-2-B
Coupling system Scharfenberg
Multiple working up to five cars
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
[1]

The Siemens SD-100 and SD-160 are two related types of high-floor light rail vehicles (LRV), manufactured by Siemens Mobility for the North American market. A total of 431 vehicles were built by Siemens in Florin, California from 1992 to 2013.

Contents

The SD-100 began production in 1992, and is equipped with direct current traction motors and folding doors. It was succeeded in 2001 by the revised SD-160, which is equipped with alternating current motors and plug doors. The first orders for the SD-160 were placed in 2001, and production continued until 2013.

A related design is the SD-400/SD-460 high-floor light rail vehicle, which was initially built by a Siemens–Duewag joint venture. Siemens purchased Duewag in 1999, and assembled the SD-460 model alongside the SD-100/SD-160 in Florin, California.

The SD-100, SD-160, SD-400, and SD-460 were succeeded in the 2010s by newer LRV designs from Siemens, including the low-floor S700 and S70 and the high-floor S200. As of 2024, most SD-100 and SD-160 vehicles remain in service with their original operators.

History

A U2A car in Sacramento, the design from which the SD-100 and SD-160 series cars were derived. Sac RT Siemens.jpg
A U2A car in Sacramento, the design from which the SD-100 and SD-160 series cars were derived.

Orders

Production of the SD-100 was launched in 1992 when the Regional Transportation District, located in Denver, Colorado placed an order for 49 vehicles. The physical design was derived from the U2A car that was built between 1985 and 1991, but built with more modern mechanical equipment.

The first vehicles rolled off the production line at the Siemens facility in Florin, California in 1994, in time for the start of Light Rail service in Denver.

SDMTS #2006, an early SD-100 unit, at Santee in 2009 San Diego Trolley Santee Trolley Town Center.JPG
SDMTS #2006, an early SD-100 unit, at Santee in 2009

In 1993, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ordered 52 SD-100 cars as the San Diego Trolley system was expanded with a new line, these entered service in 1995. As of 2021, they are currently being phased out and replaced by Siemens S700 cars.

The final order for the SD-100 came in 1996, when the Utah Transit Authority, located in Salt Lake City placed an order for 23 vehicles that were delivered before the start of the TRAX light rail service in 1999.

In 2001, Siemens launched the SD-160 light rail vehicle, which used alternating current motors instead of direct current motors and outward sliding doors. Calgary Transit ordered 72 vehicles for its CTrain service, while the Utah Transit Authority ordered 17 vehicles as it expanded the TRAX light rail service. Deliveries to both agencies started in 2003.

The physical design of the SD-160 was updated in 2005 with a new end cap that changed the look of the front/rear of the train. The Edmonton Transit Service ordered 57 of the redesigned SD-160 vehicles and Calgary Transit ordered 38.

Service history

Starting in late 2017, Calgary has been sending SD-160s to Siemens' facility in Florin for mid-life refurbishment. The refurbished units contain several components and electronics already present on the S200, the successor to the SD-160. Along with some electronic improvements, they have been upgraded to be compatible with Calgary's newer SD-160s, which were previously incompatible due to software differences. The refurbished fleet will eventually start to run with the newer units once the software has been adjusted to allow seamless operation.

Since 2022, 39 retired San Diego SD-100s were transferred to Metrotranvía Mendoza to supplement its existing fleet of Siemens–Duewag U2 which had also been purchased from San Diego. [2]

Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) of San Diego, California is in the process of donating its Siemens SD100 pairs to the Mendoza Transportation Society, which has an urban metro-tram service that connects four departments (Las Heras, Ciudad , Godoy Cruz and Maipú) of the Province of Mendoza, Argentine Republic. The donation consists of 39 pairs of the mentioned model, until June 2023 9 of the total pairs that are operating and providing regular service in Mendoza, Argentina have arrived, while for the remaining 30 MTS is expected to withdraw them from their service between this year and the next in order to coordinate the shipping logistics of these pairs between the two cities.

The arrival of these formations is important for Mendoza since it is carrying out works to double the route of its metro-tram service (it is estimated that they will end in 2026 or 2027), the arrival at the Mendoza International Airport and the department of Luján de Cuyo stands out. In addition, due to its speed compared to other means of transport, it is increasingly chosen and presents a greater demand for people, which is why it is also planned to join two pairs to increase passenger capacity.

Technical details

The SD-160's dimensions are 24.802 metres (81 ft 4+12 in) by 2.654 metres (8 ft 8+12 in) by 3.811 metres (12 ft 6 in) and can be joined together to form trains of up to six cars in length. It is powered by four AC motors which provide a maximum of 580 kW. In most applications, the SD-160 has a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). Some SD-160 trains, such as those operated in Denver, are configured to reach higher speeds of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph). [3] [4] [5] It accelerates at 1.07 m/s2 (3.5 ft/s2) and decelerates at 1.31 m/s2 (4.3 ft/s2), with emergency braking deceleration of 2.63 m/s2 (8.6 ft/s2). [1] The brakes also serve as a generator, regenerating power back to a city's electrical lines. The SD-160 has a passenger capacity of 236 passengers (standing) with 64 seats.

Compared to its predecessor, the Siemens–Duewag U2, the SD-160's driver's cabin is significantly larger, but its total length is still less than 25 metres (82 ft 14 in), allowing three vehicles to be combined and still be under the 75-metre (246 ft 34 in) maximum length of a German streetcar train assembly. Each vehicle also features an onboard closed-circuit TV security camera system for increased passenger safety. Unlike the Siemens SD-100, the Siemens SD-160 does not use the bi-folded doors, instead using sliding doors similar to designs featured on the Siemens S70. In addition, both can be used together in mixed trains consisting of SD-100s and SD-160s. The new, streetcar-length S70 cars ordered for San Diego are designed to be compatible with the SD-100, allowing the SD-100 to operate in a mixed consist, sandwiched between two S70 cars.

The SD-160NG for Calgary have been taking over some features from the SD-460 series including IGBT equipment.

Operators

ServiceSD-100SD-160
ImageOrderedIn ServiceQtyImageOrderedIn ServiceQty
RTD
(Denver)
Denver LRVs in snow, on Stout St in downtown.jpg 1992199449 29th-Welton-2007-06.jpg 20062008123
San Diego Trolley
(San Diego)
Grantville station.jpg 1993199552
UTA TRAX
(Salt Lake City)
TRAX car beyond Draper Town Center station, Apr 15.jpg 1996199923 UTA TRAX to University - February 2011.jpg 2001200317
CTrain
(Calgary)
Siemens SD-160 Calgary 2231.JPG 2001200372
Calgary Transit SD-160NG.jpg 2007201038
ETS
(Edmonton)
NAIT LRT Station (21210811271).jpg 2005200857
MTS
(Mendoza)
SD100 Mendoza.png 2022202439

See also

Other Siemens light rail vehicles for the American market:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light rail</span> Form of passenger urban rail transit

Light rail is a form of passenger urban rail transit using rolling stock derived from tram technology while also having some features from heavy rapid transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calgary Transit</span> Public transit service in Alberta, Canada

Calgary Transit is the public transit agency which is owned and operated by the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 2019, an estimated 106.5 million passengers boarded approximately 1,155 Calgary Transit vehicles. It operates light metro (LRT), urban tramway, bus rapid transit (BRT), para-transit, and regular bus services. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 144,385,200, or about 464,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CTrain</span> Light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta

CTrain is a light rail system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Much of the system functions as a high-capacity light metro, while in the downtown free-fare zone, trains run like a modern tram with a dedicated right-of-way. This subway-surface alignment is known as semi-metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens–Duewag U2</span> Light rail vehicle

The Siemens–Duewag U2 is a type of light rail vehicle (LRV), built by consortium of Siemens, Duewag and Wegmann & Co built between 1968 and 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-floor tram</span> Tram that has no stair steps between entrances and the passenger cabin

A low-floor tram is a tram that has no stairsteps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexity Swift</span> Series of public transportation vehicles

The Bombardier Flexity Swift is a series of urban and inter-urban tram, light rail and light metro vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. It is part of the Bombardier Flexity family of rail vehicles, and like the others, Flexity Swift vehicles can be customized to suit the needs and requirements of customers including legacy designs from its acquisition of Adtranz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Trolley</span> Light rail system serving San Diego, California

The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The trolley's operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc., is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The trolley operates as a critical component of the MTS, with connections to and integrated travel tickets with the local bus systems.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Charlotte metropolitan area. CATS operates bus and rail transit services in Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas. Established in 1999, CATS' bus and rail operations carry about 320,000 riders on an average week. CATS is governed by the Metropolitan Transit Commission and is operated as a department of the City of Charlotte. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,476,600, or about 44,100 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens S700 and S70</span> Light rail transit vehicle

The Siemens S70 and its successor, the Siemens S700, are a series of articulated low-floor light-rail vehicles (LRV) and modern streetcars manufactured for the United States market by Siemens Mobility, a division of German conglomerate Siemens AG. The series also includes a European tram-train variant, the Siemens Avanto.

Siemens Mobility is a division of Siemens. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens Mobility has four core business units: Mobility Management, dedicated to rail technology and intelligent traffic systems, Railway Electrification, Rolling Stock, and Customer Services.

The opening of the Metro Blue Line in 2004 marked the beginning of Metro Transit's expansion into rail transit, 50 years after the last Twin Cities Rapid Transit streetcars were taken out of service. Several new rail transit projects are either under construction or in planning stages and more are expected to be explored in the near future. Metro Transit will likely be acquiring a significant amount of rolling stock as these new projects move forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrotranvía Mendoza</span> Public transport system in Mendoza, Argentina

The Metrotranvía Mendoza is a public light rail transport system for the city of Mendoza, Argentina, served by articulated light rail cars operating on newly relaid tracks in former-General San Martín Railway mainline right-of-way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Mover Max</span> Japanese light-rail vehicle

The Green Mover Max was the first 100% low-floor articulated Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) to be built entirely in Japan. It was developed jointly by Kinki Sharyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Toyo Denki, and introduced first in Hiroshima by the Hiroshima Electric Railway Company (Hiroden). It replaced Hiroden's ailing fleet of Siemens Combinos in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro (Minnesota)</span> Rapid transit network in the Minneapolis metropolitan area of the United States

Metro is a transit network in Minnesota serving the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. It also provides service to some suburban areas. As of 2022, the system consists of two light rail lines and five bus rapid transit (BRT) lines all of which are operated by the local public transit company: Metro Transit. The five lines connect Downtown Minneapolis and St Paul with Bloomington, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, Roseville, Richfield, Burnsville and Brooklyn Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexity</span> Public transport vehicles made by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom

The Alstom Flexity is a family of trams, streetcars, and light rail vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, since 2021 a division of French company Alstom. As of 2015, more than 3,500 Flexity vehicles are in operation around the world in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America in 100 cities among 20 countries internationally. Production of the vehicles is done at Bombardier's global production plants and by local manufacturers worldwide through technology transfer agreements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens S200</span> High-floor light rail vehicle

The Siemens S200 is a high-floor light rail vehicle (LRV) manufactured by Siemens Mobility in Florin, California, beginning service in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens SD-400 and SD-460</span> Light rail vehicle

The Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 are light rail vehicles (LRV) that were manufactured by Siemens Mobility between 1985 and 2005 for the North and South American markets. The SD-400 was built under Siemens' joint venture with Duewag and assembled at both Duewag's factory in Düsseldorf, West Germany and the Siemens factory in Florin, California. Siemens purchased Duewag in 1999 and the SD-460 was assembled entirely at the Siemens factory in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SacRT light rail</span> Light rail system in Sacramento, California

The SacRT light rail system serves the Sacramento, California area. It is operated by the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and has 42.9 miles (69.0 km) of network comprising three main lines on standard gauge tracks, 53 stations, and a fleet of 121 vehicles. With an average of 21,700 weekday daily boardings as of the second quarter of 2024, the SacRT light rail system is the fifteenth busiest in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TriMet rolling stock</span> List of MAX and WES rolling stock used by Trimet

The TriMet transit system, serving the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, owns and operates two different rail transit systems: a light rail system known as MAX, and a commuter rail system known as WES. The fleet of 145 MAX electric light rail vehicles (LRVs) includes five different models, designated by TriMet as "Type 1" through "Type 6". All types are used on all of the MAX lines, but the Type 6 cars – which will gradually replace the Type 1 cars – are still being delivered and have not yet begun to enter service. The comparatively very small WES fleet includes three different types of diesel commuter rail cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens SD660</span> Light rail vehicle

The Siemens SD660, originally known as the Siemens SD600, is a double-articulated, 70%-low-floor light rail vehicle (LRV) manufactured by Siemens Transportation Systems. It was the first low-floor light rail vehicle to be used in the United States. It first entered service in 1997 with its only operator, TriMet, on the MAX light rail system in Portland, Oregon, United States.

References

  1. 1 2 "SD160 Light Rail Vehicle" (PDF). Siemens. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  2. "Aging San Diego trolley cars find new life in Argentina". KPBS Public Media. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  3. "Siemens SD-160 Light Rail Vehicle - Technical Information (Calgary)" (PDF). Siemens Transportation Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-05.
  4. "Siemens SD-160 Light Rail Vehicle - Technical Information (Salt Lake City)" (PDF). Siemens Transportation Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-05.
  5. "RTD 2019 Factsheet Booklet" (PDF). RTD Denver. p. 12. Retrieved 13 November 2023.