No Roads Required, Just a State of Good Repair

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads!” 

In 1985, the DeLorean from “Back to the Future” didn’t require roads to travel to (or from) the future, and neither did the 55 brand-new light-rail vehicles that became part of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s fleet - which continued the steady growth of public transit in the region - no flux capacitor needed. 

Last month, seven of those light-rail vehicle car bodies were removed from service, and several others are having their truck frames inspected as part of PRT’s preventive maintenance program for railcars. 

The light-rail vehicle maintenance program recommends truck frames to be inspected once they’ve reached 480,000 miles. Each light-rail vehicle has three trucks (also referred to as bogies) under each train car body. The frames will have the welds inspected and be measured for critical dimensions to ensure their safety. A total of 10 trucks will undergo this inspection. This work is considered a state of good repair project, which refers to maintaining a transportation system at an optimal level that functions safely and reliably as its intended, without a backlog of deferred maintenance. 

The seven light-rail vehicle car bodies that will be scrapped are the same age not only as “Back to the Future” - they (significantly) outlasted New Coke, the original Super Mario's video game and the full run of the comic “Calvin and Hobbes.” 

The car bodies moving to scrap have outlived their useful life after serving the community well for forty years.

In June, the light rail vehicles were loaded on to the trailer via a custom ramp from the yard at South Hills Village Rail Center and placed on flatbeds to be moved. This work is a precursor to a new program, with the future purchase of new light-rail vehicles.

PRT is deeply committed to maintaining its infrastructure and keeping the public informed on related construction, improvements and enhancements. Check back here for regular updates.