Vehicle delivery marks major milestone toward launch of Orange County’s first modern streetcar system, set to begin testing this summer, with service slated to begin in spring 2026
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority this week unveiled the first vehicle that will operate on the OC Streetcar system, giving OCTA Board members and elected officials a first look at what will be the county’s first modern, electric streetcar and another important zero-emission transit option for central Orange County.
The vehicle, manufactured by Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, is the first of eight to be delivered for the OC Streetcar. Attendees at the event, held at the streetcar’s base in Santa Ana, were invited to walk through the vehicle and learn about its design and features from OCTA staff.
“The arrival of the first OC Streetcar vehicle is an exciting moment for Orange County and a clear sign of the strong progress we’re making toward getting the system running,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor. “We’re looking forward to beginning testing and ultimately launching a safe, reliable transit option that will better connect people to where they live, work and spend time.”
OCTA Board members and local elected leaders get a first look on Wednesday, May 7 of the first OC Streetcar vehicle. Some additional work on the vehicle, including installing bumpers, needs to be completed before the vehicle begins testing in the former Pacific Electric right of way in a few weeks. Photo courtesy of OCTA.
The features of the Siemens S700 vehicle include:
- A length of 90 feet, weighing just over 100,000 pounds
- Designed to carry up to 211 passengers, including 62 seated and 149 standing
- A 70% low-floor vehicle, designed for accessibility and rider comfort
- Four sets of double doors on each side for efficient boarding
- Articulated with three sections, to allow for easier turning
- The vehicle meets all ADA requirements and includes hydraulic level boarding to improve access for passengers using mobility devices, strollers and bicycles.
The vehicle’s maximum operating speed is 44 mph, which will be reached along the former Pacific Electric (PE) right of way. Street-running segments will operate at or below the speed limit to ensure safe and predictable travel while operating alongside other cars, cyclists and pedestrians. The OC Streetcar will run on electricity from an overhead catenary system, producing zero emissions as it runs along the track.
Additional features include:
- Energy-absorbing bumper for added safety
- Emergency Battery Drive, powered by lithium-ion batteries, allowing the vehicle to move at least 300 feet under its own power in the event of power disruption.
The OC Streetcar will run on a 4-mile route between the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove. It will serve some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the county, Downtown Santa Ana and the Civic Center, and connect with Metrolink rail service, regional and international bus services and OCTA’s busiest local bus routes.
Up to six vehicles will be in service daily, with two spares rotating in as needed, and stops will occur every 10 to 15 minutes at 10 stations in each direction.
The OC Streetcar is being constructed in coordination with the cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove, the California Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration. The $649 million project is funded with federal, state and local dollars, including Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
The track for the streetcar project is finished along the entire route and, overall, the project is approximately 92% finished. Testing of the OC Streetcar vehicles is set to begin in coming weeks in the PE right of way, then later in the year move to city streets. Following months of testing, the public operations are slated to begin in spring 2026.
For more information about the project, visit www.ocstreetcar.com.
