NJT Orders High-Tech Electric Locomotives
February 23rd 2008 11:59 am
According to a Marketwire article:
Bombardier Transportation has been awarded a contract for 27 ALP-46A electric locomotives by the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT). The powerful new locomotives will help NJ TRANSIT expand capacity in its passenger rail operations, hauling specially designed Multilevel commuter rail cars Bombardier is currently delivering to the transit service provider. The firm order for 27 locomotives is valued at an estimated 155 million euros ($229 million US). The contract also includes options for an additional 33 locomotives.
The complete press release can be seen at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=824402.
There are a few things that stand out:
1. These locomotives will be capable of running at 125mph. This together with 125mph capable multi-level cars will give NJT the capability to run NEC Expresses that stay out of Amtrak’s way even on the fast tracks on the NEC for the first time, thus effectively increasing throughput of the middle tracks on the NEC.
2. The 33 options suggests that NJT foresees considerable growth in the use of electric traction. One is left wondering where this growth is going to be. Does it mean that some addition gap filler electrifications are in the offing maybe?
3. While externally the ALP-46a’s will apparently look similar to the ALP-46’s internally they will be considerably more advanced using MITRAC IGBT technology based propulsion control, and also will likely be a bit more powerful than the ALP-46’s.
4. If they turn out to be as good as the ALP-46’s they will be an excellent choice for other agencies operating loco hauled trains on the NEC.
5. The price is steep - apparently caused by, the need for custom design for the US, the ever sinking Dollar against the Euro, and the small size of the order.
Notwithstanding the steep price, NJT should be commended for choosing the next generation technological evolution of a tried and tested unit that has worked well for it, to address the issue of true express service on the NEC, and possibly elsewhere. The acid test will be whether NJT is able to meet or beat the express schedules that existed in the heyday of railroads on its routes.
Of course it would be even more commendable if in addition to this, NJT followed through on the Arrow IV RFP and ordered enough EMUs to cover local service with frequent stops instead of abusing push-pull trains for that purpose. This will potentially enable NJT to run a world class higher performance schedule for such frequently stopping trains too.
Joe Versaggi responded on 24 Feb 2008 at 11:18 am #
I wonder what the option order for 33 more is all about? I do hope Amtrak buys some. If and when the dual-mode loco nonsense ceases, I could see AMT in Montreal buying some to accompany their NJT-style multi-levels to shove trains through the new “diesel” route under the Mont Royal tunnel. That would obviate the need for those 10 E-60’s they quietly bought from an outfit in Texas, now in storage behind a chain-link fence in Montreal.
Eine Kleine Multi-level responded on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:56 pm #
AMT could still use the E60s. The top speed on their electric line(s) is 70 mph, so the locomotives won’t “hunt”. When all is said and done, AMT might end up electrifying Repentigny-Mascouche and their MR90s will provide the service along with whatever push-pull trains they decide to put into service.
I thought that the “dual-mode loco nonsense” did indeed cease when nobody picked up on NJT’s RFP, and NJT started looking at other options (e.g. the EMU/DMU)?
And where exactly is NJT going to run these new electric motors? There are no rumblings on the horizon regarding any new electrification projects. Are NJT going to invest in some very long and very thick extension cords…?
As for 125 mph, that’s small potatoes for the passenger-level Bombardier Traxx units. Deutsche Bahn’s Class 101 has been operating at 137 mph in revenue service since they came out twelve years ago.