Portland — More on United Streetcar Delays

May 2013

A follow up story in The Oregonian on May 28 covered the latest delays on streetcar deliveries from United Streetcar, a unit of Oregon Iron Works. After another public deadline for streetcar delivery was missed, Portland Streetcar has decided not to announce further target dates.

When the $19.5 million contract was signed the streetcars were slated to enter service last year.

Last week, neither of United Streetcar's first two streetcars delivered to the city were in service and the company also missed the May 16 date for a third car to be delivered to Portland for testing.

"We are reluctant to put dates on any car at this time as there are processes we must follow to assure the car is complete and safe," Rick Gustafson, executive director for Portland Streetcar Inc., told paper in an email Friday.

To be accepted the cars not only have to demonstrate that all features such as propulsion, braking, and auxiliary facilities are working, but also have to log 100 miles of test running without major faults. Testing to achieve these goals continues on the first car which has now been in Portland for four months.