Siemens SD-400 and SD-460

The SD-400 and SD-460 are light rail vehicles (LRV) that were manufactured by Siemens Mobility between 1985 and 2005 for the North and South American markets. The SD-400 was built under Siemens' joint venture with DÜWAG and assembled at both DÜWAG's factory in Düsseldorf, West Germany (Germany after reunification in 1990) and the Siemens factory in Florin, California. Siemens purchased DÜWAG in 1999 and the SD-460 was assembled entirely at the Siemens factory in California.

  • Siemens SD-400
  • Siemens SD-460
A Siemens SD-460 LRV departs Union Station on the St. Louis's MetroLink system
Interior diagram of the Siemens SD-400
ManufacturerSiemens Mobility
Built atSD-400: Düsseldorf, West Germany/Germany
SD-460: Florin, California
ConstructedSD-400: 1985–1993
SD-460: 1999–2005
Number builtSD-400: 86
SD-460: 68
Operator(s)SD-400: Port Authority of Allegheny County, Bi-State Development Agency
SD-460: Metro de Valencia, Bi-State Development Agency
Specifications
Car length89.4 ft (27.25 m)
Width8.7 ft (2.65 m)
Height12.5 ft (3.81 m)
Maximum speed65 mph (105 km/h)
WeightSD-400: 89,560 lb (40,620 kg)
SD-460: 92,500 lb (42,000 kg)
Traction systemSD-400: Siemens DC-IGBT (x4)
SD-460: Siemens AC-IGBT (x4)
Power output800 hp (597 kW)
Acceleration3 mph/s (4.8 km/(h⋅s))
Deceleration3 mph/s (4.8 km/(h⋅s)) (service)
Electric system(s)750 V DC
Current collection methodPantograph
AAR wheel arrangementB-B-B
Coupling systemTomlinson
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
(St. Louis, Valencia)
5 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1,588 mm) Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge (Pittsburgh)

The primary difference between the models is that the older SD-400 uses direct current motors, while the newer SD-460 uses alternating current motors. Both models were built with a "high-floor" design and equipped with three doors on each side for level boarding at high-platform stations and one door with steps for passenger loading at street-level.

The SD-400 was manufactured and marketed alongside the older Siemens–Duewag U2 LRV and the SD-460 was manufactured and marketed alongside the Siemens SD-100 and SD-160 LRV. The U2, SD-100, and SD-160 all offered either level boarding at high-platform stations or steps for passenger loading at street level.

This model has been replaced by the Siemens S70, a low-floor LRV for passenger loading at street level and the Siemens S200, a high-floor LRV for level boarding at high-platform stations.

Technical details
The interior of a Siemens SD-400 operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County on the Pittsburgh T system. The door closest to the camera is for level boarding at high-platform stations and the door in the background has with steps for passenger loading at street-level.

Both models have a common design, with frames built upon a B-B-B truck configuration mounted underneath a double-ended articulated body, which has a seating capacity for 72 people and room for an additional 106 standing passengers. There are three high-level, inward-opening "blinker" doors on each side of the vehicle for level boarding, along with an additional low-level, right-hand side doorway and steps at each end of the vehicle for low-level boarding. The dual-height door design was necessary on the Pittsburgh T system which has both high-platform stations and traditional street-level streetcar stops. The other operators of the SD-400 and SD-460 do not use the street-level doors in regular service.

Both the SD-400 and SD-460 are powered by four individual Siemens electric traction motors with each one developing 200 horsepower (149 kW) and creating a combined total power output of 800 horsepower (597 kW). The older SD-400 uses direct current (DC) motors, while the newer SD-460 uses alternating current (AC) motors. The SD-460 also uses updated electronic equipment with insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) compared to the SD-400. On both types, electric current is received via an overhead catenary wire, which supplies 750 volts into the motors.[1]

More than 80 SD-400 units were produced between 1985 and 1993, with all being manufactured at Siemens' primary manufacturing plant at its home base in Germany,[2] while nearly 70 SD-460 units have been produced since 1999, with all being manufactured at Siemens' secondary manufacturing plant at their American base in California as opposed to Germany.[3] The SD-400 is used by the Port Authority of Allegheny County for the Pittsburgh Light Rail in Pennsylvania, while the SD-460 is used for the Valencia Metro in Venezuela. Both types are also used on the St. Louis MetroLink operated by Bi-State Transit in Missouri.

Operators
Service SD-400 SD-460
Image Built Qty Image Built Qty
Port Authority of Allegheny County
(Pittsburgh T)		 1985–87 55 —
Bi-State Transit of St. Louis
(MetroLink)		 1991–93 31 1999–2005 56
Valencia Metro — 1999 12

See also

References
  1. "Siemens SD460 Light Rail Vehicle - Technical Information" (PDF). Siemens Transportation Systems. 01-05-2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-05. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. Urban Rail Systems & Rosters Archived 2012-07-11 at Archive.today
  3. Urban Rail Systems & Rosters Archived 2012-07-11 at Archive.today
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