First Valley Line West Light Rail Vehicle arrives in Edmonton

The first light rail train car for the Valley Line West LRT has arrived in Edmonton from South Korea.

With construction on the Valley Line West LRT well underway, the city has welcomed the first Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) that will run on the line when it opens sometime after construction is expected to wrap up in 2028.

A news release from the city said the LRV was shipped in two sections from Hyundai Rotem Company’s facility in Changwon, South Korea, on a roll-on/roll-off ship designed to carry wheeled vehicles.

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The ship crossed the Pacific Ocean and arrived at the Port of Tacoma, Wash., on July 20 before being transported by truck to the Gerry Wright Operations and Maintenance Facility in southeast Edmonton.

“The arrival of the first LRV is more than just a milestone; it’s a sign of momentum for the Valley Line West. Watching this train roll into Edmonton is a proud moment for our team and for the city,” said Brian Latte, director of the Valley Line West with the City of Edmonton.

“This LRV is a part of where we’re headed as a city. As Edmonton grows towards two million people, Valley Line West will change how we move, how we build, and how we connect with one another.”

There are currently 16 LRVs at various stages of manufacturing in South Korea. Hyundai Rotem will be supplying the city with a total of 46 Valley Line West LRVs which will complement the current fleet of 26 LRVs operating on the Valley Line Southeast. The two sets of LRVs are designed to be fully compatible with the 27-kilometre line.

“We’re proud to see the first LRV arrive safely in Edmonton. From initial design, to manufacturing and testing in Korea, to final delivery, this vehicle represents years of collaboration and a shared commitment to delivering a high-quality transit vehicle,” said Chiseung Kim, project manager of the Valley Line West with Hyundai Rotem Company.

Edmontonians participated in user testing, interacting with a full-scale mock-up of the LRV in 2023 which shaped the final design.

The vehicles will undergo testing and commissioning on the Valley Line Southeast tracks at a later time with measures in place to ensure existing passenger service is not impacted.