Siemens SD-400 and SD-460

The Siemens SD-400 and SD-460 are high-floor light rail vehicles that Siemens Mobility made between 1985 and 2005 for the North and South American markets. The SD-400 came from Siemens joint venture with Duewag and was assembled in Dusseldorf and in Florin, California, while the SD-460, built after Siemens bought Duewag in 1999, was assembled wholly in California. The older SD-400 uses direct current motors and the SD-460 uses alternating current motors with updated electronics. Both sit on a double-ended articulated body with a B-2-B truck layout, seat 72 and have room for 106 standing. Four double bifold doors per side give level boarding at high platforms, and a low door with steps at each end serves street-level stops, which Pittsburgh needed. Four traction motors give a combined 597 kilowatts from 750 volts overhead. Users include Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Valencia in Venezuela, and St. Louis has approved S200 vehicles to replace its oldest cars.