NJ Transit buys new rail cars... for 2023
Photo via NJ Transit/Facebook
NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NY) - NJ Transit announced Wednesday that it is buying 113 new rail cars but commuters won't be riding in them anytime soon.
The beleaguered transit system's board of directors approved a contract with Bombardier for the multilevel rail cars.
The agency says the $670 million contract is its largest order for rail cars in recent years.
The purchase consists of 58 "power cars" with electric propulsion capability and 55 non-powered trailer cars. The power cars do not require a separate locomotive.
The vehicles are scheduled to begin testing in the third quarter of 2022 and are expected to enter revenue service during the second quarter of 2023.
The new rail cars will replace cars that are more than 40 years old. They will increase seating capacity from 1,380 seats on a 12-car train to 1,552 seats.
NJ transit says the cars have roomier seating and other amenities like USB charging ports.