Veolia Transportation Awarded Contract For Houston Light Rail

Veolia Transportation has a well documented history of “raising the bar” when it comes to innovation and technology in the transportation industry. Our rail division continues this tradition with its recent contract award from The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) for operations and maintenance of its light rail expansion project in Houston, Texas. This contract is a signature project for Houston and for the US and may very well serve as a model for other cities. Thanks to Houston Metro’s visionary approach Veolia Transportation will be involved in every phase from inception and we are thrilled to be playing a central role.

Houston currently has one light rail corridor (the red line) running seven and a half miles north to south through the city’s downtown district. As part of this new project, Veolia will operate and maintain four new corridors of light rail service with 103 light rail, low floor vehicles, providing service to passengers in an area that will eventually cover approximately 20 miles. These low-floor vehicles, built by CAF USA, Inc., a subsidiary of the Spanish CAF Group, will be the first 100 percent low-floor vehicles to be purchased for the U.S. They will have six doors on the side and will be one level from front to back, providing more mobility and making passenger flow for boarding and de-boarding far more efficient and convenient.

The unique interior is designed for flexibility in transporting large groups of passengers. Most passenger seats can be flipped up to accommodate large stadium crowds. Some cars will feature Jacuzzi-style seating; fixed seats set in a pattern that allows passengers to face one another when engaged in friendly conversation.

In addition to our active role in planning, Veolia will also be responsible for managing 32 stations, storage and inspection facilities, maintenance of track infrastructure, and systems dispatch. The planning and development of this project will take place through Houston Operation and Maintenance, LLC (HOM), a joint venture company owned by Veolia Transportation and Parsons.

Once revenue service begins, Veolia Transportation will manage and operate all aspects of the new light rail network for an initial period of five years, with extension options up to 35 years.

The first phase of the expanded light rail service will likely be up and running in 3 years. Complete delivery of the initial order for 103 cars is expected within eight years.