The new low-floor trams manufactured by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF) for Kansas City (Missouri, USA) will operate with hydraulic leveling systems from Liebherr-Transportation Systems. The system supplier recently delivered the first units to the CAF production facilities in Elmira, (New York, USA). In total, the rail vehicle manufacturer is to install 32 Liebherr actuators in four vehicles.
The advantage of low-floor vehicles with leveling systems is evident: the hydraulic leveling actuators adjust the exit height of the tram to the exact height of the platform. Mobility-impaired passengers or passengers with prams or bicycles can thus get on and off without hindrance.
In 2013 and 2014, Liebherr supplied the manufacturer CAF with hydraulic actuators for the leveling systems of the city cars operated by METRO in Houston, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio. Due to their positive experience with this technology, CAF has decided to use the Liebherr systems for the trams in Kansas City.