Siemens SD-100 and SD-160

The Siemens SD-100 and SD-160 are two related high-floor light rail vehicles that Siemens Mobility built for the North American market. In all 431 vehicles were made at the Siemens works in Florin, California, between 1992 and 2013. The SD-100 began production in 1992 with direct current traction motors and folding doors, and the SD-160 followed from 2001 with alternating current motors and plug doors. The first SD-100 order came from the Regional Transportation District in Denver for 49 vehicles, and San Diego and Salt Lake City also bought the type. Calgary, Salt Lake City and Edmonton ordered the SD-160, and the design was updated in 2005 with a new end cap. A vehicle is just under 25 metres long, so up to six can be coupled, and the SD-160 seats 64 and holds 236 standing passengers. Most are still in service with their first operators, and retired San Diego cars have gone to Mendoza in Argentina.