Third Cincinnati streetcar arrives, joins others in testing next week

Cincinnati welcomed its third streetcar vehicle on Feb. 11. The car arrived a bit behind schedule due to a manufacturing hold-up, but the entire streetcar project is expected to remain on time for its September grand opening.
 
The first streetcar vehicle arrived on Oct. 30, with the second arriving before the close of the year. The cars are essentially the same, except the newest one has “CINCINNATI” emblazoned on its midsection. All of the cars will eventually have the same decals, but the final look, size and placement were just recently determined.
 
The third car will now undergo the same testing the first two cars been through. Each vehicle must log 300 hours of safe travel before passengers are allowed onboard. The testing process will begin Feb. 17 and involves a “dead pull,” where the car is towed through the motions to test the mechanics, wheels and rails; then it runs the route under its own power.
 
The fourth car is scheduled to arrive within a few weeks, with the fifth and final one due in March.
 
Recruiting is underway for the Streetcar Grand Opening committee, which will help plan a grand opening celebration. If you’re interested in being on the committee, contact Brandy Jones at [email protected].