Metro Transit unveils new Central Corridor light-rail cars

Metro Transit unveiled a lighter, more energy-efficient rail car Wednesday, the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press reported.

The new cars will run on the Central Corridor line, which is set to open in 2014.

Metro Transit will build 47 cars for the new line, according to the Star Tribune. The cars are 6,000 pounds lighter and will feature LED internal lighting instead of less-efficient fluorescent lighting.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and other officials toured the new cars Wednesday.

The 11-mile Central Corridor Line, which will run between Minneapolis and St. Paul, is 75 percent complete, according to the Pioneer Press. The new cars cost $3.3 million each, according to the Star Tribune.