Approval Granted for Innovative EMU Fleet to Transform New York Commuter Travel
According to a recent report from the New York Metropolitan Transportation authority (MTA), the Finance Committee has greenlit a considerable investment of $2.3 billion for the acquisition of 316 Alstom M-9A electric multiple-unit cars. this order will see 160 units designated for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and another 156 for Metro-North.
MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber expressed enthusiasm about this initial step in their ambitious Capital Plan, which totals $10.9 billion and aims to procure nearly 2,000 railcars. “This order is just the beginning,” he stated on June 23.
The first batch of these new cars is expected to arrive by late 2029, with plans for them to start service on LIRR in early 2030. By the end of that year, all units should be operational across LIRR’s electric routes as well as Metro-North’s Hudson and Harlem lines. The M-9A models are set to replace aging M-3 cars on Metro-North while also allowing LIRR to phase out its own outdated fleet that had been kept running longer than intended due to delays related to New York’s Grand Central Madison station project.
The new railcars will feature modern amenities such as USB charging ports and enhanced accessibility options like powered toilet doors. Additionally, there are provisions in place for ordering up to an extra 180 cars for LIRR and another 62 for Metro-North if needed.
A total of eight suppliers showed interest in this significant order; however,only Bombardier Transportation,CRRC Sifang America,and Hyundai Rotem USA made it through prequalification stages. Notably, Hyundai Rotem USA opted not to submit a bid while CRRC was disqualified due to stipulations from the National Defense Authorization Act.
Bombardier Transportation has since been acquired by Alstom,which complicated finalizing this deal because Alstom’s stance on technical specifications changed post-acquisition. Extensive discussions were necessary not only to secure better pricing but also improve production timelines—resulting in an increase from an initial base order of 222 cars up to the current total of 316 units aimed at lowering costs per car substantially. Furthermore, Alstom has committed that parts will be available for two decades following delivery acceptance and that around forty percent of materials used will come from readily available commercial sources.
MTA Chief Tim Mulligan highlighted their position as North America’s largest railcar purchaser: “We’re leveraging innovative strategies not just for cost reduction but also faster delivery times.” He emphasized how building upon proven designs allowed collaboration with contractors leading towards more efficient outcomes overall. p>
Dive deeper: check out our interview with Tim Mulligan conducted back in February! p>
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