Philadelphia chooses supplier for its new metro cars
Posted on 26th July 2024 at 13:55
On 25 July a USD 724.3M contract was awarded to Hitachi Rail STS for 200 new metro cars for the Market–Frankford line. There is an option for a further 40.
The 12.9-mile (20.6km) line, that carries 170 000 passengers/day, is at present operated by 220 M4 cars dating from 1997-99. The contract will be part funded by a USD 317M federal grant. The open-gangway cars will be built in the new Hitachi factory at Hagerstown, PA, (already building cars for Washington DC metro), with delivery in 2029-2031. They will feature regenerative braking.
Luca d’Aquila, COO and Head of Vehicles for Hitachi Rail, said, 'It is a great honor to be awarded the contract to deliver our modern, innovative rail cars for SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line [L]. The new fleet will offer a modern look as well as huge benefits for passengers – providing more capacity, greater reliability and improved customer experience. The trains will feature the latest passenger information systems and open gangways for ease of use by passengers’.

A train of the new M5 cars for the Market–Frankford line in Philadelphia. (Hitachi)
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