Gatekeeper Systems recently announced that it has become an OEM provider of transit video and data solutions to Alstom, a provider of rail transport systems, and has secured its first contract with the company.

Gatekeeper has entered into an initial contract with Alstom to serve as the OEM provider for factory-installed transit video solutions for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) streetcar project.

Alstom has cited the SEPTA streetcar project as a strategic project that will introduce the new Citadis light rail range to North America and serve as a blueprint for future opportunities in the region. The initial contract is valued at approximately $5.4 million.

"We are very pleased to become an OEM supplier to Alstom, one of the world's largest and most prestigious train manufacturers," said Doug Dyment, Gatekeeper's president and CEO. "The SEPTA streetcar project is a new strategic initiative that is setting a new standard for modern urban mobility in North America, and we are delighted to be the video solutions provider."

Alstom's Citadis Fleet Nears Design Completion

Alstom has announced that the SEPTA streetcar project will deliver 130 full low-floor electric streetcars, with options to build an additional 30 streetcars. The current trolleys operating in Philadelphia are Kawasaki cars from the 1980s, which need to be replaced with more accessible vehicles.

According to a company release, the next-generation Citadis light rail vehicles (LRVs) are specifically designed for North America, made to navigate the historic streets of Philadelphia, and are fully ADA-compliant.

The new Citadis streetcars will provide an energy-efficient mobility solution that uses traction technology, offering a 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to a standard light rail solution.

Otherwise known as the trolley modernization program, this phased project, according to Alstom, is managed by SEPTA and includes "the construction of new platforms, improved signage for accessibility, the replacement of the existing trolley poles with modern catenaries, and new maintenance facilities."

Although the notice to proceed was first signed in May 2023, the project has reached a point where a "majority of supplier contracts have been signed and are two-thirds of the way through the design phase," with a final design review scheduled for the fall of 2025.

Once the review is complete, Alstom will be ready to begin manufacturing the new streetcards at its Hornell facility in 2026.