Sound Transit taps Brookville for five more light-rail cars

Sound Transit's board yesterday approved a $26.5 million order for five Brookville Equipment Corp. light-rail cars for the Tacoma Link extension.

The new vehicles will begin arriving in third-quarter 2020, with full delivery to be completed by first-quarter 2021. The new units will supplement the existing three-car fleet that operate on the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link line.

Sound Transit has begun construction on a 2.4-mile extension of the line, with service slated to begin in 2022. The project will extend service to the Stadium and Hilltop neighborhoods in Tacoma, Washington.

The agency also is expanding the operations and maintenance facility where the cars will be stored, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

"Ordering more light-rail cars … will ensure sufficient fleet capacity to run trains on the expanded line," said Sound Transit Vice Chair and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland.

The contract with Brookville includes an option to procure up to five additional light-rail vehicles.