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New Jersey Transit Corp.’s board Dec. 12 presented Hunt Valley, Md.-based AAI Corp. a contract to overhaul 44 Comet IIB rail cars, provide spare parts and perform additional work to meet Federal Railroad Administration compliance. The contract amount is not to exceed $37.7 million.



AAI currently is overhauling 116 of NJ Transit’s Comet II rail coaches. On the Comet IIB cars, AAI will replace major components and subsystems including doors, seats, windows, floors and subfloors, communications systems and destination signs. Heating and air conditioning systems will be modernized, and disc brakes will be added to existing brake systems.



To ensure FRA requirements are met, AAI will install lighting for stairways used to exit the cars onto low-level platforms, and emergency door releases in the vestibules on Comet II and IIB coaches.



The Comet II overhaul program is expected to conclude in April 2003, at which time AAI will begin overhauling the IIB coaches. Officials expect to return the final overhauled IIB car to service during winter 2003/2004.