Portland Picks CAF Battery Trams for Streetcar Fleet

Riders on the two-line system will see 15 new battery-equipped trams replace seven Škoda cars from 2001.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Portland Picks CAF Battery Trams for Streetcar Fleet

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The Portland Bureau of Transportation has selected CAF USA to supply 15 battery-equipped Urbos trams for the Portland Streetcar network. The trams will replace seven Czech-built Škoda 10T cars that entered service in 2001.

Why it matters

The existing cars are nearing the end of their useful life, so the battery-equipped trams are meant to keep the 11.6 km two-line system running reliably for Portland riders. Specifications, cost, and delivery timeline have not yet been finalized.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation picked CAF USA to supply 15 Urbos trams to replace seven 2001-era Škoda 10T cars on the city's 11.6 km streetcar network. The new trams will run on batteries, allowing operation beyond the 750 V DC overhead wires.

The players

Portland Streetcar Inc.

The nonprofit operator of the Portland Streetcar system, which runs the city's two-line 11.6 km network.

CAF USA

The U.S. arm of Spanish rail manufacturer CAF, known for its Urbos light-rail and streetcar vehicles, which will assemble these trams at its Elmira, New York plant.

Dan Bower

Executive Director of Portland Streetcar Inc., who spoke about the supplier selection and the age of the current fleet.

Felix Fernandez

Chief Executive of CAF USA, leading the company that won the Portland contract.

The details

CAF USA will assemble the vehicles at its Elmira plant in New York state, and the city will negotiate design and engineering specifics with the supplier before production begins. The battery systems let the trams travel short distances past the overhead wiring that powers the current fleet. Dan Bower, Executive Director of Portland Streetcar Inc., said the existing vehicles are about 25 years old and the new cars are expected to provide roughly 30 years of service.

2001: Škoda 10T cars entered service with the Portland Streetcar opening.
April 2, 2026: Dan Bower announced the supplier selection.
2028: Construction of the North South Line extension to Montgomery Park is expected to begin.
2030: The Montgomery Park extension is expected to enter revenue service.

The Home Front

Battery-equipped streetcars are a way for transit agencies to add route flexibility without full overhead wire installation, a trend that affects how cities plan neighborhood transit corridors. For Portland households, the shift ties into ongoing decisions about where transit lines and new development go.

If you ride or live near the Portland Streetcar, expect service changes as the Škoda cars are retired and the new battery trams enter the fleet. Check with Portland Streetcar Inc. for route updates before planning trips during the transition period.

The takeaway

Battery-equipped trams can extend streetcar service beyond overhead wires, which may influence how future transit lines are routed through Portland neighborhoods. Keep an eye on the Montgomery Park extension timeline, expected to start in 2028.