Oklahoma orders Inekon trams

摘要

Oklahoma City, which is planning a 7.2km (4.5-mile) USD129m tramway loop to link parts of its downtown area, has confirmed that it will order five trams from the Czech Inekon Group. Inekon beat off bids from Brookville Equipment Corporation, CAF and Chinese company XEMC. The trams will be built at Ostrava in the Czech Republic, and will include lithium-ion battery propulsion to permit off-wire operation. The contract, confirmed on 29 September, is worth around USD23m, and includes training, spares and maintenance as well as an option for a further eight trams. Delivery of the vehicles will run from autumn 2017 to spring 2018; the tramline is due to open in summer 2018. The project is funded by a one-cent sales tax increase, and because federal funding is not involved, 'Buy America' provisions do not apply.