![“Thanks to Secretary Pete [Buttigieg], USDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration and all our partners for making the S-Line passenger rail a reality!!” NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins said in a July 1 LinkedIn post. “Thanks to the hard work of our NCDOT team we broke ground on the first construction project in the Raleigh to Wake Forest segment, a $19M project to grade separate Durant Road 7 months after the grant announcement!!” (Photograph Courtesy of Joey Hopkins)](https://www.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/slinelead-315x168.png)
Watch: Happy Birthday, Skyline!
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
(Hitachi Rail Photograph)
The initial operating segment of Honolulu’s 20-mile, 21-station autonomous (driverless) Skyline, the first urban rail transit GoA4 (Grade of Automation) system in operation in the United States, marked one year of revenue service on June 30.
Hitachi Rail in 2023 delivered the elevated-guideway “light metro” Skyline—described as “the first new major metro system to open in the U.S. since 1993”—to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) under a 12-year DBOM (design-build-operate-maintain) contract. (HART and DTS maintain the civil works portion.) DTS on June 30, 2024, released a video celebrating the launch (scroll down to watch).
The 11-mile initial operating segment includes nine stations from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium (see map below). According to Hawaii Public Radio, opening weekend saw a ridership high of 70,000 per day; average ridership is now approximately 3,500 per day. Skyline passed the one million rider mark in May.
HART in April received $125 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under an amended Full Funding Grant Agreement, plus its final four-car trainset of 20 from Hitachi Rail. The aluminum-bodied EMU (electric multiple-unit) trainsets operate off 750 VDC third rail on standard-gauge (4 feet, 8.5 inches or 1,435 mm) rails, with a total length of 260 feet and 800-passenger capacity. The trainsets have 12 doors per side (three per car), and are 10 feet wide, with open gangways between cars. Maximum operating speed is 65 mph (105 kph). The trainsets are air conditioned, and have Wi-Fi as well as space for bicycles, surfboards, baby strollers, luggage, etc. They are also fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, allowing free movement for disabled passengers boarding and deboarding.
Work on Skyline’s second phase is under way. Expected to be operational in late 2025, it will add 5.2 miles and four stations from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street-Kalihi Transit Center, incorporating Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. On June 17, 2024, the third rail was “energized,” according to HART, to allow for train testing.
A third phase will add three miles and six stations to a temporary terminus at the Civic Center Station in Kakaako. An additional one mile and two stations terminating at Ala Moana Transit Center will be completed in a later phase.
“One year ago, the launch of Skyline signified the beginning of a new and transformative era in Honolulu’s public transportation,” said Rick Blangiardi, Mayor City and County of Honolulu. “This milestone represents more than just a year of operation; it embodies our commitment to creating a future-ready, sustainable city for the next generation. Although significant work remains to complete the entire project, the positive effects we’ve seen from this initial phase are undeniable. Skyline has already started connecting our communities more efficiently and laying the groundwork for transit-oriented development spurring economic growth and enhancing the quality of life on O‘ahu. As we move forward, we remain dedicated and committed to the vision of a fully integrated transit system that meets the needs of all our residents.”
“It’s hard to believe it has already been a year since HART completed and handed over the first operating segment of Skyline to the City,” said Lori Kahikina, HART Executive Director and CEO. “The initial opening of Honolulu’s rail project was a proud and momentous occasion for the HART O‘hana, including our employees, consultants, contractors, and stakeholders. Our partnership and collaboration with Hitachi Rail were critical to hitting that important milestone.”
“Our innovative technology and dedicated team have ensured that Skyline operates smoothly with a 99.2% on-time performance rate,” said Jason Lurz, Head of Operations and Maintenance for Hitachi Rail North America. “We are delighted to have reached our first year of successful Skyline system operations and maintenance. I am proud of our team, from the station operations, technicians, and engineers to our management. They prove that great people can achieve remarkable things when working together.”
Hitachi Rail currently employs 250-plus people on O‘ahu and said it plans to hire more before the second-phase launch.
