Alstom officials said the Citadis 100% full low floor design will deliver universal accessibility for all passengers. Modern vehicles maximise capacity and reduce energy consumption. Photo for the Hornell Sun courtesy ALSTOM
By JOHN ANDERSON
The contracts for Alstom employees in Hornell continue to roll in.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officials told the Hornell Sun an agreement has been reached for ALSTOM employees to make 130 low-floor street cars and there is an option for another 30.
SEPTA said there is a signed contract for Citadis light-rail vehicles.
The contract for the 130 cars is worth $712.2 million, SEPTA officials said. That does not include the additional 30 cars, if needed.
SEPTA is said the street cars are, “Fully customized, sustainable, next-generation Citadis light-rail vehicles, specifically designed for North America and made to navigate the streets of Philadelphia.”
There is also energy benefits.
ALSTOM officials said, “The new Citadis streetcars will provide an energy-efficient mobility solution that utilises state-of-the-art, service-proven traction technology and offers a 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to a standard light rail solution. Additionally, energy efficiency is achieved by integrating LED lights and sensor-based air-conditioning, and each vehicle is 99% recyclable at the end of its 30-year lifespan.”
President and CEO of Alstom Americas, Michael Keroullé, said the cars will also be more efficient.
“We are proud to be selected by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to build and supply 130 next-generation LRVs,” said Keroullé. “The new Citadis streetcars will bring more efficient accessible and equitable service to the people of Philadelphia’s metropolis.”
SEPTA officials said the seven trolley lines run for 68 miles and connect communities in west, southwest and north Philadelphia and Delaware County directly with the region’s two largest employment and healthcare centres, Center City and University City. The current trolley vehicles have served riders since the early 1980s.
ALSTOM said in a release, “The streetcars will be manufactured in the United States, at Alstom’s Hornell facility in upstate New York, which has years of proven experience and the established capabilities necessary to meet “Buy America” requirements. Alstom has invested extensively in the Hornell site over the past few years, including the construction of a stainless-steel car body shell manufacturing facility to localise car body shell production, which will provide greater quality control over the entire production process for SEPTA. Additionally, Alstom will manufacture the advanced propulsion system for the streetcars at its North American centre of excellence for advanced propulsion technology research and development and engineering in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
“Alstom’s Citadis range of low-floor trams and light rail vehicles offers modern and energy-efficient transportation for cities. With a wide variety of solutions for catenary-free operation, Citadis products are especially suited for new lines and urban renewal projects. Since the first tram entered service in 2000, Citadis trams have covered over 1 billion kilometres and transported 10 billion passengers. More than 3,000 Citadis vehicles have been ordered or are already in successful revenue service in 70 cities – including Paris, Nice, Caen, Nantes, Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Dublin, Barcelona, Athens, Dubai, Lusail, Casablanca and Sydney – in more than 20 countries.
“The cars will feature 100 percent full low floors with wider aisles to facilitate passenger movement and accessibility, ramps at all doors for disabled access, audio and visual messaging systems to inform and communicate upcoming stops and service changes to passengers and metro-style seating characterized by flexible interiors that accommodate larger items while adjusting to capacity, demand and need, as well as designated spaces for wheelchairs, walkers, strollers and bicycles.”
