Link light rail cars are now under construction. Sound Transit is purchasing 35 new, modern low-floor light rail cars from Kinkisharyo/Mitsui of Osaka, Japan. The first light rail car was delivered in November, 2006.
By 2009, the cars will run from Downtown Seattle to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at street level, on elevated trackways, and underground in tunnels. Light rail will initially run with two-car trains, and as ridership increases, up to four-cars.
Link cars will have a maximum speed of 55 mph.
Quick information about the Link light rail fleet
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Length |
95 feet |
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Height |
12.5 feet |
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Weight |
Estimated 105,000 pounds |
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Width |
8.7 feet |
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Passenger capacity |
200 passengers, 74 seated |
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Fuel type |
Electricity |
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Fuel capacity |
N/A |
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Power |
Powered by electrical-1500 volts D.C. traction power system |
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Year of manufacture |
2006 & 2007 |
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Number of vehicles in fleet |
35 |
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Cost |
$125 million for 31 cars |
Additional information:
Manufacture and assembly of the vehicles
Manufacturer Kinkisharyo is headquartered in Japan. The car frames and shells are being built in Osaka, Japan while the final assembly is performed in the United States. Kinkisharyo has selected a final assembly site in the Northwest.
First vehicles delivered
November 2006.
Modifications, once delivered
Ongoing.
Testing of the vehicles
The testing of light rail trains began in the SODO area, south of Downtown Seattle in early 2007. Testing will be ongoing and can occur any time of the day or night.
How the vehicles work
Light rail is operated by electricity via overhead catenary wires. Light rail is essentially an electric railway system, characterized by its ability to operate single or multiple car trains along routes free of automobiles.
Overall benefits of the vehicles
Light rail trains get people out of their cars and because they run on electricity, the trains do not emit harmful contaminates into the air.
The initial segment will move thousands of people through one of the most congested corridors in the region faster and more reliably than current bus service. Light rail trains are comfortable and spacious. They are also fast and quiet, providing a smooth ride on a well-defined, clearly understandable route. They don’t get stuck in freeway traffic, and can run as frequently as every two minutes.
Light rail works well with the Puget Sound region’s diverse geography. It’s flexible enough to run at street level, through tunnels or in elevated structures. It also can expand and grow with increasing demand.
Sound Transit’s contract with Kinkisharyo/Mitsui meets the “Buy America” rules of the Federal Transit Administration, which requires that the cars contain a minimum of 60 percent domestic products by cost and that final assembly of the cars take place in the U.S.
How the vehicles fit in with Sound Transit’s fleet
Link light rail is an important component of Sound Move, the regional transit plan approved by voters in 1996. It provides a dedicated right of way through the region’s dense residential and employment centers. It complements commuter rail service with easy access to Sounder’s King Street Station in Seattle. It complements ST Express and King County Metro buses by providing a transportation alternative that won’t get stuck in traffic.
By having buses and trains operate in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, light rail will also provide convenient transfers to other regional destinations.
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Low floors for easy, level boarding
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Space for four wheelchairs, strollers and two bicycles
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Air conditioning
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Trains can be made up of from one to four cars
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Reversible operations, with driver cabs at both ends
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Double articulated, with three sections riding on six axles
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Wheelchair access
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A maximum speed of 55 mph
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Vehicle design is 70 percent low-floor
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Automatic Train Protection MicroCab[R] systems provide vehicle operators with current speed, permitted speed, and overspeed displays, and automatically enforce vehicle braking when required
In the SODO district, south of Downtown Seattle.
