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Yesterday, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) board approved purchasing 16 Silverliner V regional rail cars. The authority will exercise an option on a March 2006 contract with United Transit Systems L.L.C., a consortium comprising Sojitz Corp. of America and Rotem Co., under which SEPTA purchased 104 vehicles.

The $29.8 million option will bring the total contract value to $274.1 million. The Delaware Transportation Corp., which has an operating agreement with SEPTA for regional rail service in Delaware, will purchase four of the cars.

The vehicles will feature larger windows, wider aisles, a state-of-the-art climate control system, and interior and exterior electronic signs. United Transit Systems expects to deliver three pilot cars in December 2008. As the cars are delivered, SEPTA will retire 73 Silverliner II and III cars, which have been in operation since the 1960s. The authority will use the remainder of the cars to accommodate growing ridership.