Austin Transit Partnership Board approves Stadler as vehicle manufacturer for Austin Light Rail system - Mass Transit

The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) Board approved Stadler as the light‑rail vehicle manufacturer for the Austin Light Rail system. The decision authorises the procurement of vehicles and associated support equipment and allows ATP to begin preliminary design and coordination activities. STV, acting as the vehicle project manager, will assist with procurement and coordinate integration of the vehicles with track, station, power, signalling and maintenance facility design. STV also supports program management and other key delivery activities across the broader initiative.

The all‑electric train system will comprise 15 stations over roughly 10 miles, linking major employment centres, educational institutions and popular destinations in Austin, Texas. Each vehicle is expected to carry about 240 passengers. Design features under consideration include level boarding for improved accessibility, spacious interiors with clear sightlines, multiple doors for faster passenger flow, and flexible areas for bicycles, luggage and strollers. The community will be able to provide input on various design elements of the vehicles.

ATP selected Stadler after a competitive procurement process that evaluated experience, technical approach and design innovation. The vehicle procurement package represents one of the final major contract awards needed to establish the system’s foundational elements. Earlier this year, ATP selected progressive design‑build contractors for both the light‑rail system and the Operations and Maintenance Facility, further advancing the program toward construction and delivery of the city’s first light‑rail system.