USA: Orange County Transportation Authority has taken delivery of the first of eight trams for the OC Streetcar line which is under construction and now expected to open in spring 2026.
The 6·7 km route between Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove will serve densely populated neighbourhoods in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, connecting connect with bus and Metrolink commuter rail services.
The 26·8 m long bidirectional 70% low-floor three-section S700 vehicles being produced at Siemens Mobility’s Sacramento plant have a capacity of 62 seated and 149 standing passengers, with four sets of double doors on each side for efficient boarding. They meet all Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, with hydraulic level boarding to improve access for passengers using mobility devices, pushchairs and bicycles.
The maximum operating speed will be 70 km/h on reserved tracks on the former Pacific Electric inter-urban right of way, with lower speeds on street-running sections. Lithium-ion batteries will enable at least 90 m of operation in the event of a disruption to the 750 V DC overhead power supply.
The $649m Streetcar project is being funded from federal, state and local sources, including a 0·5% local sales tax for transport improvements.
‘The arrival of the first OC Streetcar vehicle is an exciting moment for Orange County and a clear sign of the strong progress we’re making toward getting the system running’, said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee on May 7. ‘We are looking forward to beginning testing and ultimately launching a safe, reliable transit option that will better connect people to where they live, work and spend time.’
