Alstom Transport has won in the U.S a contract worth €140 million ($194 million USD) to execute the complete overhaul of the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) metro fleet. These trains, which run from Philadelphia to nearby suburbs in Southern New Jersey, carries approximately 40,000 riders each day. PATCO’s metro transit system consists of 120 passenger cars, many of which have been in operation since the system’s 1969 opening. Work on the five-year project is scheduled to begin in February 2011. This contract is the largest capital improvement project in the history of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), the regional transportation agency which owns and operates PATCO.

The PATCO fleet modernization will deliver a superior rider experience by improving both internal and external systems. The cars will be enhanced with a full range of equipment and technology, including new couplers, car-borne propulsion technology and modern braking systems, automated train control (ATC) equipment, door operator and control systems, interior finishing including lighting and seats, air-conditioning systems, new communication and information displays.

The entire refurbishment and testing process will be driven by Alstom’s TLS (Train Life Services) teams and will take place in Alstom’s rolling stock manufacturing facility in Hornell, NY - the largest of its kind in the United States. Experts at Alstom’s Hornell facility will also perform on site testing of the completed cars to ensure safety and reliability.

“Everyone at Alstom is proud that PATCO has chosen our team to deliver the level of comfort, reliability and performance their riders expect from a 21st century transit system,” said Guillaume Mehlman, Alstom Vice President for North America Region. “Having delivered successful metro modernization projects throughout the United States, we are confident in our ability to provide a superior product, and we look forward to working closely with PATCO to once again meet that standard of excellence.”