Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has received the first vehicle in a new generation of Rapid railcars that will eventually replace Cleveland’s aging rail fleet.
The Siemens S200 railcar arrived in Cleveland as part of a major fleet replacement program valued at about $435 million. It is the first new Rapid rail vehicle delivered to the system in more than four decades.
The new cars are being built by Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California. GCRTA plans to use the vehicles across its Red, Blue and Green rail lines, replacing cars that have been operating for roughly 40 years.
Passengers will not immediately see the new vehicle in regular service. Each railcar must complete an extensive testing and acceptance process before carrying riders. The testing includes operating for 1,000 miles without a significant malfunction.
The S200 cars include 52 seats, four wheelchair spaces and two bicycle racks. They also include equipment designed for Cleveland winter conditions, including technology that can help deal with ice on overhead electrical lines.
The fleet replacement requires more than new trains. GCRTA is also preparing station platforms and maintenance facilities for the different dimensions and servicing requirements of the new vehicles. Planned infrastructure work includes modifications along the Red Line and changes at the Central Rail Maintenance Facility.
GCRTA has described the program as a complete modernization of its rail fleet. The existing Red Line heavy-rail cars and Blue and Green Line light-rail vehicles have experienced increasing age-related maintenance and reliability challenges.
The arrival of the first S200 marks the beginning of the physical transition. Additional vehicles will be delivered, tested and placed into service as the multiyear replacement program moves forward.
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