FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
MARTA UNVEILS FIRST PAIR OF REHABILITATED RAIL CARS
Rehabilitated Rail Cars Enhance Reliability and Passenger Safety, Security and Comfort
ATLANTA - Officials of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and ALSTOM Transport Inc. unveiled the Authority's first set of CQ311 rehabilitated rail cars today during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Avondale Rail Maintenance Facility in Decatur, Georgia. The cars are part of a $266 million capital project to rebuild 238 of MARTA's oldest rail cars, extending their useful life by 15 years.
MARTA board members and staff, along with officials from ALSTOM Transport, the Hornell, New York, based company performing the rehabilitation work, gathered with local elected officials, business and community leaders to preview the overhauled cars that feature new rubberized flooring, door systems, climate control systems, light fixtures, propulsion systems, electrical systems, communications equipment, and a redesigned operator's cab.
ALSTOM Transport delivered prototype cars 275 and 276, the first married pair of refurbished CQ311 rail cars, to MARTA on March 30, 2005. Upon delivery, ALSTOM Transport has three months to perform qualification and acceptance testing before they are fully accepted into revenue service by MARTA. A total of 238 cars are scheduled to be rehabilitated between now and 2008.
"These refurbished cars will give an additional 15 years of life to our rolling stock, while increasing reliability and on-time performance - both of which will enhance the overall customer experience," said MARTA General Manager/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr.
The program includes the overhaul of MARTA's CQ310 and CQ311 rail cars. The CQ310 class rail cars were the first cars used to open MARTA's rail system in 1979. Delivered between 1979 and 1982, they were built by the French firm Franco-Belge. The CQ311 class rail cars were built to support the expansion of the MARTA rail system in the 1980's and 1990's including expansion to the Airport. Delivered in 1987, these cars were built by the Japanese firm Hitachi.
MARTA's Rail Car Rehabilitation program, led by Kenneth A. McDonald, Senior Director of Maintenance Operations, will allow the Authority to realize lower operating costs, standardize components between fleets, design and implement life cycle based maintenance programs, and eliminate numerous obsolete parts. MARTA is saving $448 million by refurbishing 238 rail cars instead of purchasing new cars at today's average cost of $3 million each.
"The improvements have cost-effectively addressed MARTA's requirement for increased reliability, safety, security, and comfort," said ALSTOM Transport Inc. Senior Vice-President NAFTA Region Francis Jelensperger. "ALSTOM Transport is extremely proud of this project and our association with MARTA."
About MARTA-
MARTA is the ninth largest transit system in North America and transports an average half million passengers daily on its buses, trains and paratransit vehicles. MARTA rail service began in 1979 and operates throughout its 38 rail stations over nearly 48 miles of track.
About ALSTOM Transport-
With more than 35 product lines and a presence in more than 60 countries, ALSTOM's Transport sector offers complete products and services for new rolling stock, signaling, and electrical and mechanical infrastructure as well as maintenance and rehabilitation services to four distinct types of customers: urban transit authorities and operators; intercity passenger rail operators and rolling stock owners; rail freight operators; and intercity railway infrastructure owners. ALSTOM's Transport sector, with sales of 4.9 billion euros in financial year 2003-2004, is among the world's leading suppliers to the railway industry.
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Rail Car Rehabilitation Media Kit
