BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board has voted to purchase 39 more bilevel commuter railcars from Hyundai Rotem, bringing to 163 the total number in service or on order.
State House News Service reports the board voted Thursday, Nov. 21, to exercise a $165 million option for the additional cars. The MBTA originally ordered 83 cars in 2019 and exercised an option for 41 more earlier this year [see “MBTA orders 41 additional …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 15, 2024]. All the cars in the original order are slated to be in service by the end of the year.
An MBTA official told the board that when the full 163-car order is on hand, the agency will move to retire the single-level cars in its current fleet.
The cars have seating for up to 179 passengers. Features include accessible restrooms with hands-free faucets, real-time information displays, and USB ports at passenger tables.
Good to see Hyundai bounce back.