The GCRTA’s next-generation railcars will undergo testing before entering passenger service on the Red Line next summer.

CLEVELAND — The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has received its first next-generation railcar as part of a $435 million effort to replace its aging fleet.

GCRTA officials marked the arrival Monday of the first Siemens Model S200 Light Rail Vehicle, which the agency says will bring improved safety, comfort, cleanliness and reliability to riders. The 54 new railcars are being built at the Siemens Mobility factory in Sacramento, CA. 

The new railcars feature 52 easy-to-clean seats, additional standing room, four wheelchair areas, two bicycle racks and an infotainment system, according to GCRTA.

The vehicles also are designed to handle Cleveland’s winter weather, with ice-cutting technology and a heated windshield. The operator’s cab includes a dedicated heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and improved visibility.

“This arrival is more than just new equipment; it’s a promise kept to our riders,” GCRTA General Manager and CEO India L. Birdsong Terry said in a statement. “These new LRVs are catalytic for the health and economics of Greater Cleveland. They will promote increased ridership and encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) along the Red Line communities from East Cleveland to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.”

Upon arrival, each new railcar will undergo safety and commissioning tests at GCRTA’s Brookpark rail yard and on the agency’s rail system before entering passenger service. GCRTA officials say additional railcars are anticipated to arrive in Cleveland at a rate of approximately two per month until all 54 vehicles are delivered.

GCRTA expects the new railcars to begin Red Line service in summer 2027, followed by the Blue and Green lines in summer 2028.


RAILCAR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

According to GCRTA officials, the agency is currently using heavy and light railcars that are 41 and 44 years old, respectively. “These railcars are beyond their expected lifespan, leading to increased maintenance time and costs. Finding replacement parts is challenging due to their age, and the technology in these railcars is outdated,” GCRTA explained on its website.

The GCRTA’s $435 million Railcar Replacement Program will “replace 40 heavy railcars and 34 light railcars with 54 common railcars that can operate on both heavy and light rail systems.” Each new railcar costs $5.2 million. 

Approximately $422 million has been funded for the program as of June 29 of this year, according to the GCRTA. Funds have come from the GCRTA and Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), along with grants from the federal government and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Officials estimate that the new rail car fleet will save the GCRTA $7 million per year in maintenance costs.