Originally designed for use in Frankfurt, Germany, the Siemens–Duewag U2 was used in Canada and San Diego before now coming to Memphis.
"The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) gave the city a preview Sunday of what their upgraded high-frequency light rail service will look like once they re-open the Madison Avenue rail line," reports Jackson Browne for ABC24.
The new transit service in Memphis will have one calling card in particular that has already been attracting a lot of attention from rolling stock aficionados on social media: the use of the Siemens–Duewag U2 "vintage" streetcars.
MATA was testing the U2 cars on the Madison Avenue line over the past weekend, as evidenced by photos shared on the transit agency's Twitter feed.
The U2 tests are the latest step in a dramatic turnaround for transit in Memphis. As noted by Browne, "MATA shut down all light rail lines in Memphis after two trolleys caught fire in a six-month span," during 2014. "They initiated what they called a 'total system renewal,' aiming to set a national standard for vintage trolley operations around the country. MATA re-opened the Main Street trolley line in 2018."
In 2017, Planetizen checked in with MATA's ambitious plans to add transit service hours, which at the time intended to add 200,000 service hours by 2019. Fast forward to 2022, and MATA is expecting to open the new vintage trolley lines by the end of the year.
FULL STORY: Memphis' famous trolley cars will soon look very different
Speeding Up Trips on the Canal Street Streetcar in New Orleans
Big changes are in store for one of the busiest transit lines in New Orleans.
El Paso Streetcar Marries History, Mobility, and Economic Development
The city’s streetcar line, defunct since 1974, is moving thousands of riders through a newly revitalized downtown.
Maryland to Restart Planning for East-West Transit Line Through Baltimore
A plan for the Red Line, an east-west light rail line notoriously canceled by former-Governor Larry Hogan in 2015, is back on the table in Baltimore.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie