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The Source for Public Transportation News and Analysis December 13, 2013
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Agencies Give Rail Cars a Facelift

Beauty isn’t only skin-deep. Two public transit agencies are renovating their rail cars as part of extensive projects to modernize interiors, make energy improvements, and strengthen security, among other upgrades.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA), OH, recently unveiled renovations to cars on its heavy rail Red Line. All 40 cars on the line will eventually get interior facelifts to complement recently completed exterior work.

The budget for the interior work is $3.5 million and will take about two years to complete. GCRTA employees are handling all the work for the project, using only materials that are Buy America compliant. Improvements include the following:

• LED lighting, which replaces fluorescent lighting;
• Upgraded seat frames and seats;
• Energy-efficient windows;
• Refurbished and painted interior panels;
• New flooring and sub-flooring, with fire-retardant state-of-the-art materials;
• Expanded space for ADA passengers, bicycles, strollers, and shopping carts; and
• Updated maps, graphics, and signage.

The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), Lindenwold, NJ, also unveiled the first of its refurbished commuter cars in a project that is expected to cost about $194 million (with about $70 million funded with federal money) and be completed in fall 2016. Some 120 cars are scheduled for the overhaul.

Last year, PATCO separated several cars from their undercarriages and trucked them to an Alstom assembly facility in Hornell, NY, where they were stripped down and rebuilt from the outside in.

“Our first cars have come home for the holidays, and they look great,” said PATCO General Manager John Rink. “They’re bright, spacious, gleaming, and furnished with new equipment that promises to make PATCO travel more comfortable, reliable, and secure than ever.”

The project is PATCO’s largest rolling-stock capital expenditure and one of the largest capital improvement projects in the history of the Delaware River Port Authority, which operates the agency.

The rebuilt cars include:

• Brighter colors, higher ceilings, slip resistant floors, and new seats;
• New heating and air conditioning systems;
• Additional accessible seating;
• New passenger alarm and public address systems;
• Interior security cameras connected to an externally accessible DVR; and
• New brakes, which allow for power conservation.

New interiors on Cleveland's RTA Red Line.

PATCO's commuter rail cars are being rebuilt, from the outside in.

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