NJ Transit Moving Forward With Purchase of 374 New Rail Cars

NJ Transit has exercised a contract option with Alstom to buy 200 additional multilevel rail cars.

The cars will replace aging, less reliable single-level rail cars, standardize the fleet and increase seating capacity and safety. They have higher top speeds of up to 110 m.p.h.

The cars will be built by Alstom Transportation Inc., under an option exercised through NJ Transit’s existing contract at a cost of more than $1 billion. The contract has a remaining option for 50 more Multilevel III rail cars, which may be purchased at a later date.

The 200 new multilevel rail cars come in addition to previous orders of 174 cars, bringing NJ Transit’s total purchase order up to 374 new multilevel rail cars. Officials said the new rail cars continue to advance NJ Transit’s strategy to modernize its rail and bus fleets by 2031.

In a separate authorization, NJ Transit exercised an option under a different contract with Alstom to procure 12 additional ALP-45A dual-powered locomotives, capable of operating across both electrified and non-electrified rail lines.

The locomotives will replace older, less efficient diesel models and will enhance service reliability and reduce emissions. Replacing older EPA Tier I locomotives with EPA Tier IV locomotives can result in an estimated emissions reduction of 52.0 NOx tons annually, which supports NJ Transit’s goal of a reduced carbon footprint.

This locomotive procurement continues NJ Transit’s strategic fleet modernization plan, which has steadily expanded the ALP-45 fleet since 2008. The NJ Transit Board of Directors approved the option for these 12 locomotives from Alstom Transportation Inc. at a cost of up to $203.9 million, plus 10 percent for contingencies.