South Korean rolling stock manufacturer Hyundai Rotem delivered its first tram modules to Edmonton this week, marking a long-awaited milestone for a transit project that has faced multiple delays since construction began.
The initial shipment of seven modules arrived at Edmonton’s Gerry Wright facility on Aug. 1, representing the start of deliveries under a 218.8 billion won ($157.7 million) contract Hyundai Rotem secured in 2021. The vehicles will undergo extensive testing covering approximately 2,000 kilometers before entering service on the Valley Line West route.
Edmonton’s ambitious Valley Line West project, valued at C$2.6 billion, aims to connect downtown with the city’s western suburbs through 14 stops and two elevated stations. However, the timeline has stretched considerably from original projections, with completion now pushed to 2028.
The tram delivery comes as Edmonton continues grappling with transit project delays. The Valley Line Southeast, which opened in November 2023, was originally scheduled for December 2020 before experiencing multiple postponements.
Hyundai Rotem defeated established competitors including Siemens, CAF Group and Alstom to win the Edmonton contract. The company plans to deliver all 46 vehicles by 2027, though given the project’s track record, that timeline may face scrutiny.
The new low-floor trams feature bidirectional operation capabilities and can handle temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, designed specifically for Edmonton’s harsh winter climate. Each seven-section vehicle can reach maximum speeds of 80 kilometers per hour.
The Valley Line West forms part of a broader 27-kilometer transit network that will eventually link Mill Woods in the southeast to Lewis Farms in the west. The project receives funding from federal, provincial and municipal governments, with Ottawa and Alberta each contributing approximately 40% of costs.
