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The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has exercised an option on a 2006 contract to purchase an additional 300 rail cars from Bombardier Transportation. The agency now has ordered 706 cars from Bombardier.

The most recent order is valued at $331 million, bringing the total contract value to $1 billion.

The 5000-Series cars will be the first in CTA’s fleet to use alternating current propulsion, according to Bombardier. The new cars also will feature an active suspension system to ensure the floor is level with a station platform during boarding, more capacity, better communication systems, increased security systems and real-time diagnostics, the company said.

Bombardier is building the vehicles at its Plattsburgh, N.Y., plant.