(The following report appeared on the Toronto Star website on June 12.)
TORONTO — New Jersey Transit, which operates the third-busiest U.S. commuter railroad, will exercise a $67.3 million (U.S.) option to buy 45 more double-decker train cars from Bombardier Inc. this week.
The agency ordered 234 of the cars from Montreal-based Bombardier in 2005 for $446.9 million, with an option to buy an additional 45.
The company began delivering the trains in October and New Jersey Transit started running them on its Northeast Corridor line between New York and Trenton in December.
The cars can seat up to 20 per cent more people than New Jersey’s older trains and eliminate the three-seat rows that force passengers to squeeze between two people on cramped trains.
The agency is seeking ways to reduce crowding and delays on its rail system as more commuters use mass transit due to rising fuel prices and congested highways.