BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will purchase 80 more bilevel commuter coaches from Hyundai-Rotem, the agency announced last week.
Boston.com reports the cars will begin to arrive in September 2022 and will eventually replace 62 single-level coaches overdue for retirement. The new cars will increase daily capacity by more than 14,000 seats, and will feature improvements such as LED lighting and integration of positive train control equipment. Hyundai-Rotem, which has built 75 bilevel cars in use on the MBTA since 2013, will receive $278.6 million to build the new equipment.
The MBTA fleet of 474 cars includes 260 single-level cars due or overdue for retirement, the agency’s Fiscal and Management Control Board was told during a presentation at the meeting where it approved the 80-car purchase. The MBTA has requested bids for an additional 100 bilevel cars for delivery between 2024 and 2027, with an option for another 100 to be built between 2027 and 2029.
They will be built in South Korea.
where are these being built? Being from Philadelphia, I noticed that the plant is vacant, and may be under redevelopment so that sucks for Philly if so.
Commuter trains nowadays are built to pack passengers like sardines as airliners are for coach class.
I long for the Pullman-green New York Central commuter trains of old my parents and I rode in the 1950’s and 60’s. The older clerestoried cars were built with a level of opulence found on their intercity counterpart sans restrooms. They had single square windows with shades, velvet walkover seats bracketed with wrought-iron stands capped with armrests, and incandescent lights illuminating through orb-shaped globes. The walls and bulkheads had wood panelling free of advertisements.
Doug, sounds like you’ve described the Amtrak Superliner fleet.
Having been riding single levels with various levels of wear and disrepair for many years, such as excessive slack (THUNK!), non-functional heating and/or cooling, seats with no spring left so you sink halfway to the floor when you sit; this is welcome news. MBTA does it’s best with scarce resources, but it’s time these old rigs were put out to pasture.
From the Fiscal and Management Control Board September 23rd Staff Report…..Assembly of all vehicles will be in South Korea to expedite delivery of coaches•HR has committed to utilizing significant US content in the fabrication of these vehicles:•49% for Control Trailer Coaches (CTC)•47% for Blind Trailer Coaches (BTC)
It’s a state-funded project so Buy America regulations wouldn’t apply.
LOUIS and DOUG I can’t speak to this one order, only the typical. Typically car shells are built overseas while the USA content requirement is met by interior accommodation and electro mechanical.
We all hope for the day when the constant comings and goings of railcar manufacturing settle down to two or three viable competitors each with an American plant. Keep hoping.