NJ TRANSIT SHOWCASES ARRIVAL OF FIRST NEW MULTILEVEL RAIL CAR AS FLEET MODERNIZATION CONTINUES

April 13, 2026

KEARNY, NJ - New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, Congressman Rob Menendez, Congresswoman Nellie Pou and NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri showcased advancements made in modernizing NJ TRANSIT's fleet of vehicles, highlighted by the arrival of the first of 374 next generation multilevel rail cars. The Multilevel III rail car will undergo several months of final testing and commissioning in New Jersey before being joined by up to 40 additional new cars which are expected to be deployed into passenger service later this year. At an event today at NJ TRANSIT's Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny, NJ TRANSIT also displayed a new 40-foot bus, a new Access Link paratransit vehicle, and a new mobile police command center. Earlier this year, NJ TRANSIT unveiled the first of its fully renovated River LINE light rail vehicles. This represents an investment of more than $3 billion dollars and is a major step forward in the agency's plan to fully modernize its rail and bus fleets by 2031.

"New Jersey commuters deserve a transit system that is reliable and state-of-the-art," said Governor Mikie Sherrill. "That's why my budget makes a historic investment to modernize one of the oldest rail fleets in the nation-starting with 40 new rail cars and 250 new buses this year. By upgrading its fleet of vehicles, NJ TRANSIT is providing greater comfort, efficiency, and dependability to riders statewide. Combined with historic projects like the Portal North Bridge and Gateway Tunnel, we're making sure commuters have a better ride now and in the future."

"Nearly 1,000,000 people across New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia rely on NJ TRANSIT every day as the nation's largest statewide public transportation system. This more than $3 billion investment is critical to making their daily travel safer, more reliable, and better equipped to meet growing demand," said Senator Cory Booker. "I have long championed this effort to ensure New Jersey's passenger rail riders can count on a modern, safe system, and I'm excited about this transformative investment, which will deliver new railcars, buses, paratransit vehicles, and public safety infrastructure."

"Today marks another step forward in modernizing our public transit to meet the needs of New Jersey commuters by offering more reliable and accessible transit," said Senator Andy Kim. "I look forward to continuing to partner with colleagues at the federal and state level to continue these upgrades and deliver New Jerseyans the transit they deserve."

"From getting passengers to their destinations faster and improving reliability, to enhancing customer amenities, this new fleet is a prime example of the stronger federal infrastructure investments we should be making," said Congresswoman Nellie Pou (NJ-9). "New Jerseyans need a transit system they can rely on, and I am proud to partner with Governor Mikie Sherrill and the entire team at NJ TRANSIT to make our public transit system faster, safer, and more accessible for all."

"The federal funding we secured for NJ TRANSIT's fleet modernization is delivering more reliable service for our residents," said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-8). "We worked closely with NJ TRANSIT to support their efforts to improve the commuting experience across New Jersey and to purchase new trains, buses, and vehicles through federal grants. I look forward to continuing our partnership to make commuting an easier and more seamless experience for our constituents."

"This investment in a modern, reliable, and accessible transit fleet is exactly the kind of forward-looking commitment Jersey needs," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "From new Multilevel III railcars to upgraded buses and new wheelchair-accessible vans, these improvements will enhance the daily experience of riders, strengthen safety, and better connect our communities. NJ TRANSIT's historic modernization effort represents a major step toward a cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient system - one that meets the needs of everyday families who rely on it. I commend everyone involved for their leadership and dedication to delivering a world-class transit system for hard-working Jersey families."

"Modernizing our fleet of rail cars, buses, light rail and Access Link vehicles is essential to delivering the reliable and high-quality service our customers expect and deserve," said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain. "Providing an improved travel experience is one of our core principles, and these new vehicles play a critical role in achieving that goal."

"The introduction of new rail cars, buses and light rail vehicles is central to strengthening the reliability our customers depend on every day," said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. "These investments are designed to deliver more consistent service while improving comfort, convenience, and accessibility across our system."

"Governor Mikie Sherrill and NJ TRANSIT CEO Kris Kolluri have made clear that the state's residents deserve a strong, reliable rail system," said President and CEO of Alstom Americas Michael Keroullé. "Alstom is proud to be part of the progress that their team is making. The American-made Multilevel III fleet helps New Jersey deliver on their commitment, offering reliable vehicles with modern amenities, greater capacity, and a more comfortable ride for passengers."

The new Multilevel III rail cars provide dramatically increased mechanical reliability. This will allow NJ TRANSIT to retire rail cars that were built in the 1970's that operate between 30,000 to 40,000 miles before a mechanical failure and replace them with cars that are ten times more reliable, traveling approximately 400,000 miles before a mechanical failure. Customer amenities include additional seating capacity and enhanced accessibility, higher operating speeds up to 110 m.p.h. as well as USB charging ports and new onboard information screens. The new rail cars will replace NJ TRANSIT's aging Arrow III and Comet II and IV single-level cars.

The first car to be delivered to NJ TRANSIT is a multilevel power car. Power cars are passenger coaches equipped with traction motors. They can propel themselves and two other passenger cars without locomotives, or they can be combined with additional power cars operating trainsets as long as 14 cars. Power cars provide faster acceleration than can be achieved by locomotive-driven trainsets. The new multilevel cars are being manufactured by Alstom in Plattsburgh, NY and are among the first of their kind in the nation.

The new 40-foot buses include USB charging ports at multiple seats, brighter LED interior lighting for comfort and energy efficiency, and low-floor design with ramps for faster, easier boarding - especially for seniors and customers with disabilities. The buses also feature improved intercom systems for clearer announcements and enhanced safety and security measures such as onboard security cameras, blind-spot cameras to assist bus operators, and turn-warning systems to alert pedestrians when buses are making turns.

Access Link presented its new BraunAbility ProMaster Low Floor vehicle - a purpose-built, ADA-compliant low-floor vehicle designed to allow faster and easier embarking and disembarking for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory clients, including but not limited to senior citizens and customers with disabilities. The vehicles are configured to accommodate five ambulatory passengers and one wheelchair passenger. Access Link plans to place these vehicles into service in the summer of 2026.

The new mobile police command center is a 45-foot state-of-the-art vehicle. It features dual entry points, three separate rooms, including a front operations room with six fully equipped workstations, a middle support area with communications equipment, and a rear conference room with seating for 12, providing a functional and flexible workspace. The new mobile police command center has the technological capabilities to serve as a centralized command hub for both critical incidents and planned events. Other amenities include:

• Touchscreen monitor for displaying maps and other items
• Perimeter cameras for situational awareness around the unit.
• Onboard phone system with eight phones
• Seven radios for communication.
• Exterior wireless PA system.
• Full network with computers, printers and cellular modems for internet.
• Exterior programmable LED sign board
• Powered by onboard generator

At an event in January of this year in Trenton, NJ TRANSIT unveiled the first River LINE light rail vehicle to feature a fully renovated passenger compartment and a recent engine overhaul as part of continuing efforts to enhance the customer experience and improve service reliability. Improvements include new LED lighting, replaced seating, new flooring, updated signage and more. This first renovated vehicle is wrapped in graphics celebrating America's 250th birthday. NJ TRANSIT plans to upgrade 14 light rail vehicles over the next few years as part of this program.

The unveiling of this equipment across all modes of travel affirms NJ TRANSIT's commitment to upgrading and modernizing its fleet of vehicles to deliver greater reliability and an enhanced customer travel experience.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 264 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.