The company said it signed a 320 billion won contract on Monday (local time) with the city government of Edmonton, Alberta, to provide high-floor light-rail vehicles. Light rail generally refers to smaller rail vehicles used to ease urban congestion, and includes trams.
The order covers 32 trainsets, each made up of three cars, with a top operating speed of 80 kph. They will be deployed on the Capital and Metro lines, which run north-south through the city center and connect to outlying areas.
Because the vehicles will replace an aging fleet, Hyundai Rotem said the design focuses on improving passenger safety and convenience. The trains are tailored for local winters, including temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and heavy snowfall, and include lightweight design features aimed at reducing energy use. A forward-collision warning system will be installed on the front of the vehicles to enhance safety for passengers and pedestrians.
The company said the exterior uses strong color contrast and lighting to carry over the identity of existing vehicles while adding a more forward-looking design. Inside, it said, intuitive passenger information displays and wheelchair pictograms are intended to improve accessibility for riders with disabilities.
Hyundai Rotem said the deal means it will supply vehicles for every LRT line in Edmonton. Trams the company won in 2021 are slated for the Valley West line, not the high-floor lines served by the new LRT vehicles, and are intended to improve travel between the city and surrounding western areas. Those trams have been delivered to the site in stages starting with the first trainset in early August last year.
Hyundai Rotem also cited earlier work in Canada, including an automated people mover for Vancouver International Airport under a 2005 contract that it said was delivered early, helping move up the operating schedule by three months. The Canadian project agency later sent a letter of thanks and a plaque recognizing the company’s contribution to the successful hosting of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In 2018, Hyundai Rotem signed an additional contract to supply automated trains for the same line.
The company said it will continue expanding its lineup for future global markets, including hydrogen-powered rail vehicles such as hydrogen locomotives.
A Hyundai Rotem official said the company will draw on its experience delivering light-rail projects in South Korea — including the Gimpo LRT, Incheon Line 2 and the Ui-Sinseol LRT — and its cooperation with local agencies to help Edmonton residents use public transit safely and comfortably.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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