NJ Transit begins a $917 million program to overhaul 429 Multilevel railcars because the agency aims to match older equipment with the capabilities of the incoming Multilevel III fleet.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

NJ Transit Orders 36 New Alstom MultiLevel III Double-Decker Cars
Photo: Alstom MultiLevel III

NJ Transit defines goals for its Multilevel fleet program

The agency approves this overhaul so older Multilevel I and II cars operate in step with 374 Multilevel III units now on order. It treats the program as part of a broader, long-term modernization plan.

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The oldest cars entered service in 2006, and the agency now schedules midlife upgrades for this portion of the fleet. That timeline means the earliest Multilevel equipment has nearly two decades in service.

Alstom, which supplies the new Multilevel III fleet, acquired Bombardier in 2021. This corporate link connects the original builder of the cars with the manufacturer responsible for the next generation of equipment.

CEO Kris Kolluri stresses that modernization covers both new vehicles and equipment already in service. He notes that riders expect safe, reliable, and modern service, so the agency cannot ignore its existing fleet.

NJ Transit invites contractors and outlines project scope

The agency will invite qualified contractors to submit expressions of interest that describe experience, capabilities, and technical skills. It then plans to shortlist companies and move them into procurement and contract discussions.

The program includes state-of-good-repair work and new features such as USB charging ports to align older cars with Multilevel III equipment. The agency also examines energy-efficient systems and materials where feasible.

Taken together, these steps allow the agency to coordinate the overhaul with its wider modernization efforts. By aligning design features, it reduces differences between railcar generations during daily service.

Source: www.trains.com

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