Bombardier Transportation dual-powered passenger locomotive (artistic rendering) for NJ Transit

Bombardier Transportation has signed two contracts to supply a total of 46 dual-powered passenger locomotives to the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) and the Agence Metropolitaine de Transport (AMT) in Montreal.

The order from NJ Transit, valued at approximately $262 million, is for 26 dual-powered locomotives. The contract includes options for an additional 63 locomotives.

The order from AMT, valued at approximately $223 million, is for 20 dual-powered locomotives. The AMT contract includes options for an additional 10 locomotives.

The new dual-powered locomotives will be capable of operating under both diesel power and alternating current electric power from overhead sources – a first in North America. The flexible power system will enable the locomotives to operate across the entire NJ Transit and AMT rail systems, which include both electrified and non-electrified lines.

Locomotives for both contracts will be built at Bombardier manufacturing facilities in Germany and Poland. Delivery to clients is scheduled to begin in 2011.

The NJ Transit board of directors also approved the purchase of 50 additional Bombardier Multilevel Vehicles (MLVs) to help meet increasing ridership demand on the corporation’s busiest commuter rail lines.

The purchase will bring NJ Transit’s total number of the rail cars to 329.