New Jersey Transit has exercised options worth $1.26 billion with Alstom Transportation Inc. for an additional 200 powered and non-powered Multilevel III (MLIII) commuter railcars and 12 ALP45-DP (dual-power, diesel/catenary-electric) locomotives.
The $1.06 billion MLIII option increases NJT’s number of these cars to 374. Approximately one-third of the fleet are MLPCs (Multilevel Power Cars) that operate off AC catenary and eliminate the need for a locomotive. For example, a 12-car MLIII trainset will typically consist of four MLPCs, six non-powered trailer cars and two non-powered cab cars (providing redundancy and improving reliability if one of the power cars malfunctions. The Multilevel design, developed originally by Bombardier Transportation (which Alstom acquired in 2021) are part of Alstom’s Adessia™ commuter rail portfolio. These cars will replace NJT’s older Comet II, IV and V single-level cars. The agency’s contract has a remaining option for 50 more MLIIIs, which may be purchased at a later date.
The additional 12 ALP45-DPs, at a cost of $203.9 million (plus 10% for contingencies) will replace some of NJT’s older diesel-electric locomotives. This option expands NJT’s fleet to 72. Like the Multilevel, Bombardier Transportation originally developed the ALP45-DP, now part of Alstom’s Traxx Passenger™ locomotive portfolio.
