The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board has approved the purchase of 104 new Silverliner V Regional Rail cars from United Transit Systems, LLC (a Consortium of Sojitz Corporation of America and Rotem Company) for a contract price of $244,236,714.
"This purchase is an important step for the Regional Rail system," said SEPTA General Manager Faye Moore. "SEPTA will now have an opportunity to add service to rail routes that have continued to attract new riders every year."
With the delivery of the 104 new rail cars (34 single and 35 married pair) SEPTA will retire 73 Silverliner II and III cars, which have operated since the 1960s. The addition of the new rail cars to the Regional Rail fleet will also address current overcrowding on the rail system.
SEPTA Regional Rail ridership on weekdays continues to exceed 106,000 passengers, and is growing at over 3% each year. (FY 2006 year to date growth is 5%). Over one million square feet of office space is under construction in Center City, with buildings such as the new Cira Center at 30th Street Station and the new Comcast Center near Suburban Station expected to provide many new daily rail commuters.
Delivery of three pilot rail cars will be scheduled for two-and-half years from Notice to Proceed of the contract, with all of the new cars anticipated in service four years from Notice to Proceed. Final assembly of the Silverliner V cars will be done at a site leased by United Transit Systems at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
The contract also contains options to purchase up to sixteen additional rail cars for probable ridership growth.
The design of the Silverliner V cars will incorporate recent technology, proven components and enhanced passenger amenities to ensure overall safety, security and passenger comfort. They will fully comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, as well as federal and state regulations regarding safety features and systems. New Federal Railroad Administration passenger car strength and safety requirements will be incorporated in the manufacture of the new vehicles.
Passenger amenities will include larger windows, wider aisles, a state-of- the-art climate control system and enhanced seating arrangements with more two-passenger seating. Each car will be equipped to accommodate two wheelchairs. The combination of aisle width, placement of wider doors and interior seating arrangements will provide a more pleasant environment for passenger movement and seating. The new cars will have electronic exterior and interior destination signs and voice annunciation of train destination and upcoming station stops. The enhanced public address system will enable SEPTA's Control Center to broadcast messages directly to passengers on trains. Cars will be equipped with a passenger emergency intercom system.
three years.
