Czech trams for Seattle line

摘要

Seattle will gain a second city tramway during 2015 when the First Hill Streetcar line opens. The initial 12-stop, 2.5-mile long line will be extended north in 2016, with four more stops added. Czech tram builder Inekon Group, based in Ostrava, is supplying seven bi-directional '12-Trio'trams in a contract worth around $30million. To comply with 'Buy America' regulations, three are being built in Seattle by local engineering firm Pacifica Marine, while four are being built in Ostrava. The First Hill Streetcar line will utilise batteries in one direction, using the 750kV DC overhead wires for the uphill journey out of the city and the batteries for the downhill return trip. The first of the battery trams was tested successfully in January on the tram system in Ostrava, and will be shipped to the USA this spring.