Alstom and CTDOT unveil new commuter rail car prototype for media and public in New Haven

• Model will be on display at Union Station Nov. 25-Jan. 6
• New coaches will feature laptop tables, power outlets, panoramic windows
• Key step in Alstom’s manufacture of 60 rail vehicles for state rail system

Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) unveiled a life-sized model of the state’s future commuter rail cars at Union Station in New Haven, CT.

The wooden mock-up consists of the interior of one half of a car with seats, finishes and a wheelchair-accessible lavatory. Visitors may take a tour of the prototype Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m., from Tues., Nov. 25 until Jan. 6. The model is situated in the East Lot and is ADA-accessible.

CTDOT ordered 60 single-level passenger coaches from Alstom in August 2023 to expand the state’s fleet and replace older vehicles currently in use, some of which date to the 1990s. The new coaches will primarily operate on the Hartford Line, which runs between New Haven and Springfield, MA. 

“We are proud to share the work of our expert engineers and designers and give Connecticut rail riders a glimpse of their future,” said Scott Sherin, Chief U.S. Commercial Officer for Alstom. “These new passenger coaches will provide many years of fast and reliable service, reduce traffic congestion along highways, and help the state achieve its 2030 emissions targets.”

“We’re thrilled to give Connecticut riders a hands-on preview of our future rail cars,” said CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “This prototype makes clear our commitment to rail travel that’s modern and accessible, designed around today’s riders and their need for comfort, ADA access, and thoughtful amenities"

The coaches will feature comfortable two-by-two seating, laptop tables, extra-wide windows, power outlets and USB charging ports. In addition, the new cars will include overhead luggage racks and areas for wheelchairs, strollers and bikes. They will travel at speeds up to 110 mph (177 km/h). 

The first cars are expected to be delivered in late 2026 and will sport the orange, white and black design of CTrail, the brand designating state-run rail service in Connecticut.

The Hartford Line is an innovative venture introduced by CTDOT in 2018 to supplement Amtrak service along the Interstate 91 corridor and provide an affordable, reliable and sustainable alternative to driving. 

The single-level cars are part of Alstom’s Adessia commuter rail portfolio. The portfolio offers a wide range of single- and double-deck cars, which can be fashioned either as push-pull coaches that operate with locomotives or self-propelled vehicles equipped with electric engines. Alstom has sold more than 40,000 Adessia vehicles to commuter rail systems around the world; together they move over 20 million passengers every day.

Alstom is a leading rolling stock and rail services provider in the U.S. It has delivered more than 12,000 new or renovated vehicles for domestic rail agencies, including those in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta and New Jersey, as well as the NextGen Acela high-speed trains for Amtrak. Alstom is a significant contributor to the capacity and quality of passenger rail transportation of major cities across the United States.

ALSTOM™ and Adessia™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.

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