Alstom to overhaul PATCO fleet

Alstom Transport won a $194 million contract to execute the complete overhaul of the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) metro fleet. These trains, which run from Philadelphia to nearby suburbs in Southern New Jersey, carry approximately 40,000 riders each day.

PATCO's metro transit system consists of 120 passenger cars, many of which have been in operation since the system's 1969 opening. Work on the five-year project is scheduled to begin in February 2011. This contract is the largest capital improvement project in the history of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), the regional transportation agency that owns and operates PATCO.

The PATCO fleet modernization will deliver a superior rider experience by improving both internal and external systems. The cars will be enhanced with a full range of equipment and technology, including new couplers, car-borne propulsion technology and modern braking systems, automated train control (ATC) equipment, door operator and control systems, interior finishing including lighting and seats, air-conditioning systems, new communication and information displays.

The entire refurbishment and testing process will be driven by Alstom's TLS (Train Life Services) teams and will take place in Alstom's rolling stock manufacturing facility in Hornell, N.Y.

Experts at Alstom's Hornell facility will also perform on site testing of the completed cars to ensure safety and reliability.