Alstom officials said Citadis’ 100% full low-floor design will provide universal accessibility for all passengers. Modern vehicles maximize capacity and reduce energy consumption. Photo for the Hornell Sun courtesy of ALSTOM
By JOHN ANDERSON
The contracts of Alstom employees in Hornell remain in force.
Officials with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) told the Hornell Sun that an agreement has been reached for ALSTOM employees to build 130 low-floor streetcars, and there is an option to to 30 more
SEPTA said there is a signed contract for the Citadis light rail vehicles.
The 130-car contract is worth $712.2 million, SEPTA officials said. This does not include the additional 30 cars, if required.
SEPTA says the streetcars are “fully customized, sustainable, next-generation Citadis light rail vehicles designed specifically for North America and built to navigate the streets of Philadelphia.”
There are also energy benefits.
ALSTOM officials said: “The new Citadis trams will provide an energy-efficient mobility solution that uses state-of-the-art, service-proven traction technology and offers a 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to a standard light rail solution. In addition, energy efficiency is achieved through the integration of LED lights and sensor-based air conditioning, and each vehicle is 99% recyclable at the end of its 30-year lifespan.”
Alstom Americas President and CEO 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 provide a more efficient, accessible and equitable service to the people of the Philadelphia metropolis.”
SEPTA officials said the seven streetcar lines run 68 miles and connect communities in West, Southwest and North Philadelphia and Delaware County directly to the nation’s two largest employment and health centers. region, Center City and University City. Today’s trolleys have served drivers since the early 1980s.
ALSTOM said in a statement: “The trams will be manufactured in the United States at Alstom’s Hornell facility in New York State, which has years of proven experience and the established capabilities needed to meet the requirements of “Buy America.” Alstom has invested extensively at the Hornell site in recent years, including the construction of a stainless steel shell manufacturing facility to locate car shell production, which will provide greater quality control over SEPTA’s entire production process.In addition, Alstom will manufacture the advanced propulsion system for the streetcars at its US center of excellence for technology research, development and engineering advanced propulsion in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
“Alstom’s Citadis range of low-floor trams and light rail vehicles offers modern and energy-efficient transport for cities. With a wide variety of solutions for catenary-free operation, Citadis products are particularly suitable for new lines and urban renewal projects. Since the first tram entered service in 2000, Citadis trams have traveled more than 1 billion kilometers 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 for ease of passenger movement and accessibility, ramps on all doors for handicapped access, audio and visual messaging systems to inform and communicate upcoming stops and service changes to passengers and featured subway-style seating for flexible interiors that accommodate larger items while accommodating capacity, demand and need, as well as designated seating spaces of wheels, walkers, prams and bicycles”.
