MARTA partners with engineering group to improve Atlanta Streetcar system

MARTA has partnered with the industrial engineering group Siemens to improve and develop the Atlanta Streetcar system, according to a press release from the company.
A MARTA spokesperson confirmed that Siemens was chosen as the long-term service provider for the Streetcar system in an effort to enhance its reliability, safety and availability. Siemens will also provide technical support and materials for all preventative and corrective maintenance related to the streetcars.
Siemens will use a digital rail services platform, Railigent, to analyze streetcar operations through data captured on-board.
“Siemens is proud to bring our experience in vehicle design and service demands, coupled with our leading manufacturing expertise, to team up with an effective and well-trained Atlanta Streetcar maintenance organization,” Chris Maynard, vice president of Siemens’ customer services, said. “This joint effort blending traditional service activities and the benefits of the digital landscape will lead to the highest levels of efficiency, safety, reliability, and availability for Atlanta streetcar riders and operators.”
According to the release, Siemens personnel will be on-site to provide customer support.
Siemens has also opened a center on the Georgia Tech Campus, called the Mindsphere Application Center. This center will analyze the gathered data in order to develop advanced software platforms for rail systems across the country, the company said.