HONOLULU — Hawaii’s new Skyline light rail system, billed by manufacturer Hitachi as the first fully autonomous metro system in the U.S., will make its debut today. It will be the first new major rail transit system to debut in the United States since 1993.
The first train is slated to run at 11:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. ET), launching with a 10.75-mile, nine-station segment of what will eventually be an 18.9-mile, 19-station system. Regular service will begin Saturday, July 1.
When complete, the system is projected to replace an estimated 40,000 trips by car per day.
The Hitachi-built fleet of 20 four-car trains have a capacity of 800 passengers, are fully ADA compliant, and have wi-fi, among other features. Along with manufacturing trainsets, Hitachi Rail designed subsystems such as fire detection and passenger gates, tested and performed commissioning of the system, and will be its contract operator. The almost entirely elevated system is operated from a single control room.
“We’re delighted to have delivered Honolulu’s largest ever infrastructure project, which will have a major impact reducing congestion and emissions on the island,” Alistair Dormer, Hitachi Ltd. executive vice president, energy and mobility, said in a press release. “Reducing car journeys by up to 40,000 a day, once the full system is complete, will make a huge difference to travel in Hawaii.”
The first portion will launch more than 2½ years after the initial opening date, with the entire system slated to cost more than $10 billion, about twice the original estimate [see “Honolulu rail system to be known as ‘Skyline,’” Trains News Wire, June 19, 2023].
The next phase of the project, adding 5.2 miles and four stations, is projected to open in summer 2025.
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