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July 2012
By Angela Cotey, Associate Editor
Out-of-date fleets and new line extensions have prompted many U.S. transit agencies to order new passenger cars, diesel multiple units and light-rail vehicles in the past year. Progressive Railroading contacted many transit agencies to obtain details on their current or upcoming fleet plans. Below is an agency-by-agency look at rolling stock purchases from those that responded.
Bay Area Rapid Transit recently contracted with Bombardier Transportation to manufacture 410 rail cars — 260 as part of a base order and 150 under a first option — to replace its fleet. The agency is expected to order a total of 775 cars under the contract, totaling $1.5 billion. Bombardier plans to deliver 10 pilot cars in spring 2015, and begin delivering the remaining cars in early 2017.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has ordered seven locomotives from MotivePower Inc. and 14 passenger cars from Bombardier Transportation to operate on the future SunRail commuter-rail system. The cars are scheduled to be delivered in summer 2013 and locomotives, in 2013’s first half. FDOT has exercised an option to purchase three additional locomotives for SunRail’s second phase and is in negotiations with Bombardier to purchase additional cars for the expansion. The contracts with MotivePower and Bombardier total $24.2 million and $41.1 million, respectively.
The Chicago Transit Authority has ordered 706 5000-series rail cars from Bombardier Transportation. The total contract value stands at $1 billion. Several dozen cars already have been delivered.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently ordered 78 light-rail vehicles from Kinkisharyo International L.L.C. The $299 million contract includes four options to purchase another 157 vehicles for $591 million. The initial order is scheduled to be delivered by mid-2016.
The Maryland Transit Administration has ordered 54 multi-level passenger cars from Bombardier Transportation under a $153 million contract. The vehicles are scheduled to be delivered between May 2013 and January 2014.
Metro Transit has ordered 41 light-rail vehicles from Siemens. Of those, 10 will operate on the Hiawatha line and 31 will operate on the Central Corridor, which is under construction between downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. Each car costs about $3.3 million. Delivery is scheduled to begin late this year.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas awarded an $83 million contract to Siemens in April 2011 for 19 S70 light-rail vehicles. Delivery is scheduled to begin in October.
MTA Metro-North Railroad has 405 M-8 electric multiple units on order from Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. under a $982.5 million contract. As of last month, more than 100 had been delivered. The remainder are scheduled to be delivered between now and 2013. The M-8s will operate on the New Haven Line. In an effort to replace its 138-car M-3 fleet, Metro-North might join with MTA Long Island Rail Road to purchase M-9 EMUs. In early June, LIRR issued a request for proposals for a base order of 76 vehicles and options for up to 600 additional cars — 320 for LIRR and 280 for Metro-North. Another option Metro-North might consider for the M-3 replacement: purchasing 140 multi-level coaches and 40 locomotives.
MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has contracted Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. to manufacture 126 new “A” Division cars and convert 380 R142-A cars to operate using communications-based train control. The initial contract — worth $116.5 million — was awarded in May 2010. NYCT exercised a $497.2 million option in December 2011. Ten conversion cars were delivered in December 2010 and the base order of new trains is scheduled to be delivered by December 2012. Delivery on all vehicles is expected to be complete in first-quarter 2016. Looking ahead, NYCT plans to purchase “B” Division cars under its 2015-2019 capital program to replace the 752-car R46 fleet.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is taking delivery of 120 Silverliner Vs it ordered under a $274 million contract with United Transit Systems L.L.C., a consortium of Hyundai Rotem USA and Sojitz Corp. of America. As of late June, 99 of the vehicles had been delivered; the remainder were scheduled to be delivered by September. The vehicles will replace SEPTA’s Silverliner II and Silverliner III rail cars. The order includes four rail cars purchased by the Delaware Transit Corp. so SEPTA can meet future ridership growth on its Wilmington/Newark Line.
The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon awarded a $73 million contract to Siemens to manufacture 18 S70 light-rail vehicles that will operate on the Portland-Milwaukie light-rail line. The cars are expected to be delivered beginning in August 2014.
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