The railway operator of New Jersey, NJ Transit, approved a contract with Bombardier for the acquisition of 113 new cars with options for an additional 636 cars to replace the old fleet.
The order, which includes the first self-propelled double-deck rail cars in the United States, it will not exceed USD 670 million plus contingencies.
Under the contract, Bombardier will deliver 58 electric power cars (EMUs) and 55 non-powered trailer cars. The base order is for 58 multilevel power cars, 33 cab cars, 16 trailer cars and 6 trailer cars with restrooms. There are also options for an additional 636 cars to replace the remaining single-level cars and accommodate future growth
The vehicles are scheduled to begin testing in the third quarter of 2022 and are expected to enter service during the second quarter of 2023.
This is the largest order for rail cars in recent years by NJ Transit and will allow the agency to replace the aging Arrow III EMUs, which are over 40 years old.
The new cars increase seating capacity from 1,380 seats on a 12-car Arrow III train to 1,552 seats on a new 12-car multilevel III train. The new cars will feature roomier two-by-two seating as opposed to the three-person bench seats that are currently on the Arrow III cars. Other customer amenities include USB charging ports for customers and new, onboard information displays.
The benefits of the double-deck passenger vehicles include reduced operating costs, higher acceleration and an 11 percent increase in seating capacity.
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