(Interfleet Technology issued the following press release on August 28.)
NEWARK, N.J. — A fleet of electric locomotives used to provide NJ TRANSIT’s commuter rail service between New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia is currently being overhauled in a project being supported by international rail consultancy, Interfleet Technology.
In a contract of value in excess of $2M, The North American arm of the globally-operating firm, Interfleet Technology Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia, is supporting NJ TRANSIT through the provision of engineering assistance for the overhaul of its fleet of 20 ABB-built ‘O’ and ‘E’ class ALP-44 electric locomotives.
Led by highly-experienced Principal Consultant, Jim Wiesinger (who previously ran the Amtrak heavy maintenance facility in Wilmington, Delaware) Interfleet’s scope of services expected to be delivered over a two year period includes four phases – concept and specification development, carbuilder procurement, design review, and manufacturing and testing oversight through to delivery of the overhauled locomotives. The first of these phases, namely production of the overhaul specification is nearing completion.
Upon award of a contract award to the successful car builder, Interfleet’s engineers, with support from its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise sub-consultant firm, Raul V. Bravo & Associates, will provide design oversight and engineering assistance during contract procurement and engage in QA/QC inspections including type, acceptance and routine testing at both the locomotive overhauler’s facility and on NJ TRANSIT’s property.
Nigel Davies, Interfleet’s Vice President – Business Development, North America, commented: “Built in 1990 and 1995 and designed specifically for NJ TRANSIT, these locomotives have served the agency and its passengers very well for many years. However, these locomotives are now in need of a mid-life overhaul as well as improvements in technology to ensure the fleet’s continued reliability, maintainability and availability. The overhauled locomotive will provide enhanced operational performance and reliability, as well as continued safety, and will contribute vitally to NJ TRANSIT’s growing fleet that is required to meet the demands of increasing ridership.
“Interfleet is clearly delighted to be working on such a high profile contract and is looking forward to building on its existing working relationship with NJ TRANSIT. We are confident that, through our in-depth rail equipment knowledge and our ability to identify and engineer cost effective solutions, combined with our credentials in managing overhaul projects of this type, Interfleet will be able to add considerable value to NJ TRANSIT during the course of executing this important project.”
NJ TRANSIT is the largest statewide public transportation system in the U.S. providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the US with 163 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.