CAF USA Wins 15 Battery Urbos Contract for Portland Streetcar NS Line

Portland Transportation Bureau has selected CAF USA to manufacture and deliver 15 battery-powered Urbos trams for the Portland Streetcar system in Oregon. The vehicles will serve a new overhead-wire-free section as the NS line extends to Montgomery Park in northwest Portland.

The order marks the first wireless operation for Portland Streetcar and signals the growing adoption of battery-electric trams for off-wire sections across US transit systems. The hybrid battery technology allows operators to extend networks into areas where overhead infrastructure proves costly or aesthetically problematic, while maintaining service reliability across existing electrified routes. This approach reduces capital expenditure on catenary systems and provides operational flexibility for future expansions.

CAF USA will build all 15 vehicles at its Elmira, New York manufacturing facility, which has previously delivered streetcars for Kansas City, Cincinnati and Omaha systems. The new trams will replace 25-year-old vehicles currently operating on the Portland network. Dan Bower, executive director of Portland Streetcar and the city's project manager, said the procurement sets the foundation for 30 years of operations. Representatives from Portland, Portland Streetcar Inc, and CAF began negotiations in early April to determine final vehicle specifications, costs and delivery schedules.

The Portland order continues CAF's expansion in the North American light rail market, where the Spanish manufacturer competes with Siemens, Alstom and Stadler for urban transit contracts. Battery-electric streetcars have gained traction as cities seek to extend networks without full electrification, with similar deployments in development across multiple US markets. The NS line extension represents Portland's strategy to expand streetcar coverage while managing infrastructure costs in dense urban environments.