As part of its commitment to modernize its rail fleet, enhance service reliability and improve the customer experience, NJ TRANSIT has fully exercised a contract option with Alstom for the purchase of 200 additional multilevel rail cars. The purchase was authorized by the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors in May 2025. These modern rail cars will replace aging, less reliable single-level rail cars, standardize the fleet, and increase seating capacity.
“This significant investment in new multilevel rail cars is essential in delivering efficient service that New Jersey residents deserve,” said NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Fran O’Connor. “Today’s action is another critical step toward building a transportation system that meets the needs of our state and supports our goal of increasing reliability.”
“Service reliability and safety is one of my highest priorities, and having a fully modernized rail fleet is one of the most critical ways to deliver on that commitment for our customers,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “With this purchase of 200 new multilevel rail cars, which brings the total of new rail cars ordered since 2018 under the Murphy Administration to 374, NJ TRANSIT is taking a major step toward ensuring consistent, dependable service, while also putting us firmly on the path to achieving a fully modernized fleet by 2031 — a first in the agency’s history.”
The new Multilevel III rail cars will replace NJ TRANSIT’s aging Comet II, IV and V single-level cars. According to NJ TRANSIT, benefits include increased mechanical reliability, additional seating capacity and accessibility, higher top speeds of up to 110 m.p.h., safety and enhanced onboard amenities for customers including USB charging ports.
The cars will be built by Alstom Transportation Inc., under an option exercised through NJ TRANSIT’s existing contract at a cost of approximately $1.055 billion. The contract has a remaining option for 50 more Multilevel III rail cars, which may be purchased at a later date.
The 200 new multilevel rail cars come in addition to previous orders of 174 cars, bringing NJ TRANSIT’s total purchase order up to 374 new multilevel rail cars. These new rail cars advances the agency’s strategy to fully modernize its rail and bus fleets by 2031.
In a separate authorization by the Board of Directors in May 2025, NJ TRANSIT exercised an option under a different contract with Alstom Transportation Inc. to procure 12 additional ALP-45A dual-powered locomotives, capable of operating across both electrified and non-electrified rail lines. The locomotives will replace older, less efficient diesel models and will enhance service reliability and reduce emissions. Replacing older EPA Tier I locomotives with EPA Tier IV locomotives can result in an estimated emissions reduction of 52.0 NOx tons annually, which supports NJ TRANSIT’s goal of a reduced carbon footprint.
This locomotive procurement continues NJ TRANSIT’s strategic fleet modernization plan, which has steadily expanded the ALP-45 fleet since 2008. The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors approved the option for these 12 locomotives from Alstom Transportation Inc. at a cost not to exceed $203,926,264.96, plus 10% for contingencies.
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