The Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Authority (MBTA) celebrated the arrival of a future Green Line Type 10 vehicle mockup at Boston City Hall while New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), along with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, showcased the agency’s new multilevel car at an event at NJ Transit’s Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny, N.J.
MBTA
MBTA has a $810 million contract with CAF USA Inc. for the design, construction and delivery of new Green Line vehicles. The contract includes 102 cars with new safety technology and accessibility improvements. The agency says feedback from the public will help in the final design.
“We are pleased that we could offer the opportunity for the public to come to Boston City Hall Plaza to see a full-scale mockup of the Green Line Type 10 vehicle,” said Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Green Line Type 10 is going to modernize the Green Line, resulting in service, which is more accessible, more comfortable and much safer for our customers.”
“We are committed to giving our riders the safe, reliable and comfortable trip that they deserve. The Type 10 mockup vehicle is a peak into the future, allowing the public an opportunity to provide feedback, which is important to us, as we finalize design of the vehicle,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “These cars will be state of the art with CCTV security, wider doors and real-time information screens. They are 100 percent low-floor designed, which eliminates the need to traverse steps, making accessing the trolley simpler than ever.”
Upgrades to the new Type 10 vehicle include but are not limited to the following:
- A 100 percent low-floor design, making the vehicles more accessible.
- Additional bridgeplate request buttons and passenger intercoms to make it easier for riders to request assistance.
- A hearing loop available throughout the entire train.
- Four priority areas for wheeled mobility devices.
- The latest generation of crash-safety technology.
- Wider doors for streamlined boarding and alighting.
- Passenger information screens onboard that will show digital real time information and line maps.
The MBTA and CAF USA Inc will finalize the design and continue the procurement process. MBTA notes pilot cars are expected to be delivered in 2026 and the full Type 10 fleet delivery is expected to be completed in 2031.
NJ Transit
NJ Transit’s new cars, manufactured by Alstom Transportation in Plattsburgh, N.Y., will offer a range of benefits over the older, 40-plus year-old single level cars they will replace, including dramatic improvement in mechanical reliability. The vehicle maximum speed will increase to 110 mph. NJ Transit notes the cars, which will begin entering service mid-2025, will be compliant with the latest federal regulations, including Positive Train Control.
“Providing modern, reliable equipment is a critical component to improving New Jersey’s infrastructure, particularly with regard to public transit,” said Gov. Murphy. “These multilevel rail cars are equipped with innovative features that meet the everyday needs of our commuters. Upon their completion, these upgraded rail cars will expand access to reliable and comfortable transportation for NJ Transit riders.”
"NJ Transit is committed to improving every aspect of the customer journey and the 174 new multilevel rail cars will achieve that through vastly improving reliability, increasing capacity and enhancing the onboard experience,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “NJ Transit is grateful to Gov. Murphy and our partners at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for delivering the necessary funding to ensure our system continues to meet the growing demands of our region and the expectations of our customers.”
The Multilevel III Power Cars are electric multiple units, meaning they are self-propelled and don’t require a separate locomotive. Electric motors are incorporated within one or a number of the vehicles on the train.
In December 2018, the NJ Transit Board of Directors approved a rail rolling stock vehicle procurement award to Bombardier Transit Corporation (now Alstom Transportation Inc.) for 113 Multilevel III rail vehicles to replace the single-level, self-propelled Arrow III rail vehicles manufactured more than 40 years ago. In February 2022, the NJ Transit Board approved the purchase of an additional 25 Multilevel III vehicles. In July 2024, the board approved the purchase of an additional 36 Multilevel III vehicles, bringing the total number of new cars to 174 since 2018.
“The FTA is proud to support NJ Transit, as it introduces 174 new multi-level railcars into service,” said FTA Regional Administrator Michael Culotta. “The new fleet, supported by $567.5 million in federal funds, includes state-of-the-art technologies providing improved accessibility, safety and efficiency, which will leave an indelible mark on riders and align seamlessly with the goals of the FTA and the Biden-Harris Administration.”
"Alstom is proud to help meet the vision and leadership of Gov. Murphy and NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett to provide transit users in New Jersey with a more modern and comfortable ride," said Alstom Vice President, Head of Rolling Stock David Van der Wee. “Innovative new trains with 21st century amenities will give commuters, students, sports fans, every kind of NJ Transit customer the high-quality experience they have been demanding and deserve. Our employees in Upstate New York couldn’t be prouder to deliver these new trains."
Brandon Lewis | Associate Editor
Brandon Lewis is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lewis is a former freelance editorial assistant at Vehicle Service Pros.com in Endeavor Business Media’s Vehicle Repair Group. Lewis brings his knowledge of web managing, copyediting and SEO practices to Mass Transit Magazine as an associate editor.
