• Siemens has provided Calgary with its entire LRT fleet of vehicles since 1981
• Benefits of S200 vehicles include full accessibility, increased energy efficiency, new passenger comfort and safety features and design adapted to the Calgary climate

OAKVILLE, ON, Sept. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Siemens Canada has officially been awarded the order by the City of Calgary to provide Calgary Transit with 60 new Siemens S200 High Floor Light Rail Vehicles. In addition to expanding the city's fleet, the new trains will replace a portion of the fleet of current U2 Siemens vehicle provided to the city in the early 1980s, thereby continuing the strong customer relationship between the company and Calgary Transit.

Since 1981 Calgary's LRT system has become the busiest in North America and second busiest in the world, with an average of more than 300,000 passengers travelling the system daily. Siemens developed the S200 vehicle by incorporating the strengths and lessons learned from the existing Calgary fleet over the past three decades, as well as direct input from Calgary Transit riders and operators, with service-proven technological innovations from other Siemens customers throughout the world.

The result is an innovative new Light Rail Vehicle solution for the City of Calgary featuring various systems that will further aide in reliability, such as: back-up power systems; improved communication and diagnostics systems between the driver and the maintenance shop to resolve issues promptly; many advancements in modern material technology; and Siemens service knowledge gained throughout more than three decades of working with Calgary Transit.

Other notable aspects of the S200 vehicles designed to increase passenger comfort and safety include slip-resistant flooring, on-board security systems, GPS mapping displays and larger windows and doors to increase natural light and provide visual security.

The new vehicles are also fully compliant with the City of Calgary's Access Design Standards, providing barrier-free access at all vehicle doors, making them easily accessible for passengers in wheelchairs as well as those pushing strollers or transporting bicycles or bulky objects.

Siemens designed and tested the technology for the S200 vehicles to perform well in Calgary's challenging environment. Features such as increased thermal insulation in walls, triple-pane side windows with low solar transmittance, and electric floor heating in combination with the vehicle forced air heating and cooling system provides a comfortable passenger environment in all weather conditions. The vehicles are also fitted with the most advanced corrosion protection coatings available in the industry.

With respect to operation and maintenance, the new vehicles offer a larger, redesigned operator cab and a larger, heated windshield and side windows offering a nearly 360 degree view. Maintenance has also been optimized; for example, diagnostic data is transmitted automatically and wirelessly to wayside operations, allowing the source of any issues to be detected and resolved quickly.

Siemens is confident that the S200 Light Rail Vehicle designed for Calgary Transit will enhance the city's Triple Bottom Line approach in achieving economic, environmental and social goals. The first S200 vehicle slated to ship in 23 months with the full order to be completed by December 2016.

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About Siemens Canada 

For more than 100 years the innovative ideas from Siemens have helped make Canada a better place. From the Atlantic to Pacific oceans, more than 4,500 employees in Canada work together to provide answers that last in the fields of industry, energy, healthcare and infrastructure solutions for cities. Since it was federally chartered in 1912, Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality and reliability. Sales for Siemens in Canada in fiscal 2012 (ended September 30), were $2.1 billion CAD. The company has 53 offices and 14 manufacturing/assembly facilities across Canada. Further information is available at www.siemens.ca.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on the beliefs of the management of Siemens Canada Limited and its affiliates. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project," are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the management's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rate and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens Canada Limited and its affiliates do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Siemens Canada Limited

Image with caption: ""The Mask, one of three exterior visual concepts presented by Siemens Canada to Calgary Transit for 60 new Light Rail Transit vehicles ordered by the City of Calgary" (CNW Group/Siemens Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6707_PHOTO_EN_30776.jpg

Image with caption: ""The Bow, one of three exterior visual concepts presented by Siemens Canada to Calgary Transit for 60 new Light Rail Transit vehicles ordered by the City of Calgary" (CNW Group/Siemens Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6707_PHOTO_EN_30774.jpg

Image with caption: ""The Buffalo, one of three exterior visual concepts presented by Siemens Canada to Calgary Transit for 60 new Light Rail Transit vehicles ordered by the City of Calgary" (CNW Group/Siemens Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6707_PHOTO_EN_30775.jpg