NJ TRANSIT CONTINUES COMMITMENT TO MODERNIZE RAIL FLEET

200 Additional Multilevel Rail Cars Purchased; Total Number of New Rail Cars Ordered is Now 374 to Phase Out Older Less Reliable Single Level Cars

September 9, 2025

NEWARK, NJ - As part of its ongoing 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 and safety.

"This investment reflects our unwavering commitment to providing New Jerseyans with safe, reliable, and modern public transportation," said Governor Phil Murphy. "By replacing outdated rail cars with state-of-the-art equipment, we're not only improving the commuting experience for millions of riders, but also strengthening our economy, reducing emissions, and moving toward a more sustainable future."

"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."

200 Multilevel III Rail Cars

The new Multilevel III rail cars will replace NJ TRANSIT's aging Comet II, IV and V single-level cars. Benefits include dramatically 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 continue to advance NJ TRANSIT'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 seamlessly 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 percent for contingencies.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.