Rail operator deploys Siemens technology for newly opened light rail line

TriMet's new MAX Orange Line, a light rail project between Portland and Milwaukie in the US incorporates Siemens’ advanced rail technologies, including its S70 light rail vehicles, rail signalling and communication systems and the company's first Sitras SES energy storage unit in the US that uses regenerative braking to sustainably power the line. The 12 kilometre line is the region's sixth construction project of the development project Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) to expand the city's transport net
September 22, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
1272 TriMet's new MAX Orange Line, a light rail project between Portland and Milwaukie in the US incorporates 189 Siemens’ advanced rail technologies, including its S70 light rail vehicles, rail signalling and communication systems and the company's first Sitras SES energy storage unit in the US that uses regenerative braking to sustainably power the line.

The 12 kilometre line is the region's sixth construction project of the development project Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) to expand the city's transport network to cope with expected population growth in the Portland area. The line will improve transit in the corridor that extends from the terminus of the MAX Green and Yellow lines at Portland State University in Downtown Portland to Milwaukie and North Clackamas County.

The newly redesigned light rail vehicles were built based on input from TriMet and passengers and include better sight lines for the driver, more ergonomically designed main cabins and larger displays for train operators so they are better able to monitor the vehicle's status to improve safety and efficiency. Maintenance enhancements were made based on TriMet's feedback including rearrangement of systems to increase accessibility to key components on the vehicles and improved diagnostic systems.

The innovative regenerative rail energy storage technology allows for energy created during braking to be stored and then re-used in one of two forms, energy savings or voltage stabilisation during peak demand times. TriMet will utilise the system in voltage stabilisation mode, which enables the system to avoid disruptions that can occur in mass transit operations if power drops below a certain level. The Sitras SES ensures the system voltage always remains within the required range and voltage-related disruptions no longer occur.

Related Content

  • November 12, 2015
    Reno A&E launches new malfunction monitors
    Reno A&E has launched two intersection malfunction management units (MMU), the RAE MMU2-1600GE and MMU2-1600G, which are compliant with the NEMA TS2-2003 (R2008) standard for Traffic Controller Assemblies.
    Read More
  • February 25, 2015
    Substantial savings from smarter street lighting
    As authorities strive to reduce expenditure and carbon emissions, Colin Sowman looks at some of the smart ways of managing street lighting while containing costs and maintaining safety. Street lighting can account for 40% of an authority’s energy consumption. So, faced with the need to reduce outgoings, some authorities are looking for smart ways of managing street lighting or even turning off swathes of street lights in the small hours. Back in 2008 the E-street Initiative report concluded that authorities
    Read More
  • May 29, 2013
    Israel aspires to ITS-led future
    Shay Soffer, Chief Scientist with the Israel National Road Safety Authority, talks to Jason Barnes about his country’s current ITS outlook and how he sees this developing in the future. Israel ranks alongside countries such as the US and France in the road safety stakes, with an average 7.1 deaths per billion kilometres driven. But at that point the similarities end, as the country’s overriding issue is pedestrian safety. This is driven by several factors, including being a relatively small country where pe
    Read More
  • February 28, 2023
    MTA's Bronx bus route re-jig 'streamlines' trips
    New York's transit agency says commute times for bus riders have been cut
    Read More

Highlighted Content