Manufacturing of the light rail vehicles (LRVs) for the Green Line LRT has begun. These will be the first low-floor LRVs used in Calgary and the first time the Urbos 100 model will be used in Canada.
The decision to use low-floor LRVs comes from the numerous benefits they offer, including improved accessibility, enhanced vehicle and pedestrian safety, and increased community integration.
The vehicles are manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), a Spanish company that was awarded the contract in 2019 to supply the Green Line vehicles. The initial fleet will consist of 28 vehicles, which will be stored, serviced, and maintained at the maintenance and storage facility near the future Shepard Station.
The shells of each module are currently being built, while the wheels, suspension set, motors, and passenger seats are already assembled. Thorough quality inspection and testing of these components are also taking place as installation continues.
Further testing of train functionality will occur once the trains are delivered to Calgary, including acceleration, braking, and the ability to pass through tunnels and pull up to station platforms. Additional cold weather testing will help to ensure trains perform optimally in snowy and icy conditions. This will be combined with general testing of their technological systems.
For more information on the Green Line’s LRVs, please visit calgary.ca/green-line/trains.
