Transit Vehicle Age and Cost
February 16, 2009
Heavy rail cars have the greatest longevity of the transit vehicles listed below with an average vehicle age of more than 22 years. However, in terms of cost for purchasing a new rail car, heavy rail is by far the least expensive of all types of rail transit vehicles. Buses cost far less than rail transit vehicles but the average age for a transit bus is just under 8 years.
Average Age of Transit Vehicles, 2007
Average New Vehicle Costs for 2007 Vehicles by Type
Average New Transit Vehicle Age and Costs by Vehicle Type, 2007*
| Vehicle Type | Average Price (Dollars) | Average Age (Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | $424,880 | 7.8 |
| Trolleybus | $862,599 | 9.5 |
| Vanpool | $22,818 | 3.8 |
| Demand Response | $61,463 | 3.9 |
| Light Rail | $2,880,556 | 17.8 |
| Commuter Rail | $1,915,313 | 18.9 |
| Commuter Rail Locomotive | $2,410,171 | 19.7 |
| Heavy Rail | $1,406,391 | 22.4 |
* Includes some 2008 vehicles.
Note
* Includes some 2008 vehicles.
Source
American Public Transit Association, 2008 Public Transit Fact Book, Table 14, Average Vehicle Age by Mode, 2007 and Table 22, Average New Vehicle Cost by Type.