NJ TRANSIT Plans Bi-Level Rail Car Purchase for the 21st Century

October 6, 1999 -- The NJ TRANSIT rail fleet will take on a new look entering the 21st Century as the corporation prepares for a large-scale purchase of bi-level rail cars.

The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today awarded an $8.6 million, two-phase contract to LTK Engineering Services of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, to help NJ TRANSIT prepare technical specifications for 200 new bi-level rail cars and provide engineering assistance during the final design, engineering and manufacturing of the cars.

Artist's rendering

NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Weinstein said: "This ambitious rolling stock purchase is part of Governor Whitman's Transportation Vision for the 21st Century, providing our customers with a modern rail fleet that utilizes the latest technology and passenger amenities. The purchase also helps us address current and future ridership growth and improves New Jersey's position in the global economy, offering prospective businesses a world-class transportation system."

NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Jeffrey A. Warsh said: "We've been listening and we hear our riders' message loud and clear. They want relief from the rampant overcrowding on our trains. Our amazing increase in ridership had made NJ TRANSIT a victim of our own success. Bi-level cars will help to provide some necessary relief."

Presently, there are no bi-level rail cars available on the market capable of fitting through the Northeast Corridor tunnels that pass under the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey with New York. As a result, NJ TRANSIT must design a car that meets tunnel clearance requirements. The cars also will be equipped with 2-2 seating, and long doors — similar to NJ TRANSIT's newest Comet coach cars — allowing them to operate at both high level and low level platforms. Finally, the cars will be designed to ease passenger boarding and exiting, and reduce dwell times at stations.

LTK will work closely with NJ TRANSIT on specification preparations and during the design, engineering and construction of the new rail equipment. LTK will prepare technical specifications to be used for bid purposes as well as to guide the final design. The engineering assistance effort includes evaluation of technical and cost proposals that will be submitted by rail equipment manufacturers; technical support during the design and engineering phases; and technical, quality, managerial and administrative support during construction of the equipment.

Today's Board action follows a decision by the Board last month to award a contract to STV Inc. of New York, NY for engineering assistance for the future purchase of 200 single- level rail cars, 24 electric locomotives and 33 diesel locomotives.

The rail car and locomotive purchases are part of NJ TRANSIT's five-year plan to address current and future ridership growth on its rail system, current system limitations and future plans for service expansion. In the first phase, the corporation plans to purchase 98 single-level cab cars, 102 single-level coach cars, 24 electric locomotives and 33 diesel locomotives by 2002. In phase two, 200 bi-level coaches will be purchased by 2004.