MBTA Purchases Additional New Commuter Rail Cars to Improve Service as Ridership Grows

13 individuals stand behind 3 seated individuals, all in front of a blue background and behind a large brown table. — Leadership from the MBTA and Hyundai Rotem gather in celebration of a new commuter rail agreement that will add an additional 41 cars to the line.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today signed an option under the agreement with Hyundai Rotem, a company that specializes in manufacturing railway vehicles, to replace an aging fleet and improve riders’ experience across its regional system. The agreement will bring an additional 41 state-of-the-art bi-level commuter rail cars – to a previously agreed-upon 83 cars – to our network.

“As we continue to see a strong return of our ridership on commuter rail, investing in our rolling stock allows us to not only improve service levels but provides the public with a more comfortable and reliable experience,” said MBTA CEO and General Manager Phillip Eng. “I thank the commitment from Hyundai Rotem to continue delivering quality cars for our riders and the MBTA managers that have overseen the production and quality assurance testing as we improve service and replace the aging fleet.”

Three men sit in black chairs behind a big brown table and in front of a blue background. — From left to right: Hyundai Rotem CEO Yong Bae Lee, MBTA CEO and General Manager Phillip Eng, and Hyundai Rotem USA President Steve (Sung Hoon) Kang.

General Manager Phillip Eng and employees of the MBTA Engineering, Operations, and Commuter Rail Divisions were joined by Hyundai Rotem’s CEO Young Bae Lee, USA President Steve Kang, and Vice President for North America Sung Hyun Kim to finalize the agreement.

“We will always strive for excellence so that we can deliver the cars that can lead to customer satisfaction in time,” said Hyundai Rotem CEO Yong Bae Lee. “Hyundai Rotem will actively participate in the future US Rolling Stock Market by utilizing its past performance of cooperating with local transportation authorities.”

Features for Enhanced Comfort and Accessibility

Our new Commuter Rail cars come equipped with a range of features designed to improve your commuting experience:

Increased spacious seating for up to 179 passengers per car
Designated areas for passengers with disabilities
Real-time information systems with automated announcements and message displays
Improved accessible restrooms with hands-free faucets
USB ports at passenger tables
Warm-white LED lighting for a more pleasant environment
Bicycle racks

Safety Features

We've prioritized safety in these new Commuter Rail cars with several key features:

Defibrillators (AEDs) on control Commuter Rail cars
Emergency intercom units
Anti-slip paint in vestibules
Updated signage, including Braille

“Ridership has only continued to grow post-pandemic, and we hope to see those trends continue,” said MBTA Executive Director of Commuter Rail Michael Muller. “These new Commuter Rail cars will help us meet increasing demand while offering our riders the convenience they deserve.”

Silver train with purple stripe sits on a track. There is green grass in the foreground. — The newly delivered state-of-the-art bi-level Commuter Rail cars will join the MBTA’s existing fleet.

As of today, the MBTA has taken delivery of 76 new bi-level Commuter Rail coaches with 64 already in passenger service. The remaining coaches are undergoing final testing and are expected to enter service by the end of 2024. To date, we have received 76 out of 83 Commuter Rail cars and 64 Commuter Rail cars are currently in passenger service. The procurement contract with Hyundai Rotem was valued at $305 million.

Investing in state-of-the-art rolling stock was a much needed effort underscored by the MBTA's November 2023 Capital Needs Assessment estimated $24.5 billion for needed repairs and replacements across the system. Rolling stock accounted for $2.4 billion.