The streetcars arrived in Tacoma onboard the Tomar, a Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessel on December 2, after a 10,460-mile journey from Germany (Bremerhaven-Zeebrugge-Southampton-Panama Canal-Port Hueneme-Tacoma).
The streetcars were manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, the world’s leading supplier of rail equipment, transportation systems and services.
Each of the two cars is about 105 feet long, and is comprised of five articulated modules. Transporting the cars from Tacoma to Vancouver, B.C. was handled by 21st Century Transport, Inc, with assistance from Chapman Hauling.
Bombardier Transportation, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, will provide free streetcar service for Vancouver residents and visitors on the Olympic Line from mid-January to mid-March 2010. They are expected to carry about 500,000 passengers during that time.
Steve Hall, Bombardier’s General Manager in Vancouver, said, “We are delighted to bring the first 100% low-floor streetcar to North America. The people of Metro Vancouver will now have the opportunity to experience first hand the latest in European streetcar design during the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games.”
