1986—2026
Goodbye, MAX Type 1
TriMet’s original light rail vehicles are reaching the end of the line.
Type 1 Goodbye Event
April 18, 2026 at Holladay Park
NE Holladay St. and NE 11th Ave. near the Lloyd Center
Noon–3 p.m.
Activities include:
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🛍️Exclusive merch for sale
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✍️Sign the last train
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🚉🕺Best MAX Type 1 costume, wins a piece of the Type 1 train
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🤳Take a selfie inside the cab of the Type 1
The History
Why MAX?
TriMet designer Jeff Frane won the public contest to name the light rail line. Frane noted that the name was inspired by his son Alex. “I used to read him these picture books and there was a character — I think he’s a rabbit — his name was Max. The ad agency had a list of criteria. The name had to be simple and friendly. I was playing around with acronyms. MAX just seemed like a really friendly name.”
MAX stands for Metropolitan Area Express.
Timeline
Features
You may have noticed, TriMet’s original trains are unlike any in our fleet. Here are a few examples of what make the Type 1s standout as the distinctive trains that they are.
- 👉The Type 1’s boxy design is reminiscent of Belgian trains manufactured by BN Constructions Ferroviaires et Métalliques, some of which are also displayed at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum. Bombardier modified an existing BN design for the Type 1s as part of a joint venture between the two companies.
- 👉The Type 1s are notable for having high floors and stairs. Before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and later the introduction of low-floor trains, TriMet used devices at our stations that lifted people in mobility devices onto trains with the operator’s assistance.
- 👉They had a different manufacturer than the rest of TriMet’s MAX fleet. The Type 1s were built by Bombardier, while all the others were built by Siemens.
- 👉Type 1s have more seating than any other MAX train.
- 👉Type 1s were completely analog. Even the destination displays had to be cranked by hand!
Six MAX trains. One easy way to tell them apart.
This is where some of our MAX trains live
What Happens Next
The Type 1s are going away, but you can always go to the Oregon Electric Railway Museum to see one! TriMet donated light rail vehicle “101” to the Museum in July 2025, ensuring this special part of transit history is preserved for generations to come. The museum is located in Brooks, Oregon, about 38 miles south of Portland via Interstate 5.
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