Last month, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) approved the procurement of 316 new M-9A commuter railcars to operate on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad.
Alstom has now confirmed that it will supply the electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter rail cars under a 2.3 billion USD contract.
The agreement also includes an option for up to 242 additional cars, potentially increasing the total contract value by up to 1.5 billion USD.
The new M-9A vehicles will replace the MTA’s M-3 commuter cars, which have been in service for around four decades. The updated trains are designed to provide improved accessibility and convenience, featuring USB charging ports, accessible restrooms, and space for wheelchair users. Each car will also include two sets of wide doors per side to facilitate efficient boarding and alighting.
Production of the vehicles will take place at Alstom’s facilities in Hornell and Plattsburgh, New York. Car body shells will be built at a newly constructed manufacturing site in Hornell, while bogies will be assembled in Plattsburgh. The propulsion systems will be manufactured at Alstom’s site in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The project is expected to support around 300 jobs in upstate New York, many of which will be filled by members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM).
Approximately half of the new cars will be allocated to LIRR, the busiest commuter rail system in the United States, with the remaining cars assigned to Metro-North, which serves northern New York and parts of Connecticut. The addition of these vehicles will bring the total number of commuter and subway cars Alstom has supplied to the MTA to around 5,400.
Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas said:With the M-9A project, Alstom looks forward to delivering great commuter trains and good jobs for New Yorkers,” said. “We are grateful to the MTA for putting their trust in us and building on the long history that Alstom has with the MTA and with manufacturing state-of-the-art trains in America. These new trains not only provide passengers with greater comfort, convenience, and amenities; they will also be made in our New York factories, by New York labor. The investment the MTA makes in these train cars is an investment in local communities throughout the Empire State.
The new M-9A cars will comply with the MTA’s latest cybersecurity standards and will operate on electrified lines without requiring a separate locomotive.
The vehicles form part of Alstom’s Adessia portfolio, which includes high-floor commuter trains suited to a variety of operating environments and conditions.
