Alstom announced on July 7, 2025, that it has received a notice of award for a EUR 2 billion contract to manufacture 316 commuter railcars for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad, the commuter rail divisions of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The contract includes an option of up to 242 additional cars for a value of up to EUR 1.3 billion.
The M-9A passenger vehicles will replace 40-year-old M-3 cars, the oldest model operating on the commuter lines, and will offer a quieter, smoother and more reliable ride. The commuter railcars will feature USB charging ports, space for wheelchairs and accessible restrooms. Two sets of extra-wide doors on each side of the car will continue to ensure that passengers board and disembark quickly.
160 of railcars will be put into use by LIRR, the busiest rail commuter operator in the country, and 156 by Metro-North, which serves the northern New York and Connecticut suburbs. They will bring the total number of commuter and metro cars that Alstom has produced for the MTA to approximately 5,400.
The new cars will meet the MTA’s latest cybersecurity standards to protect the train’s internal systems and external communications. All the vehicles will be electric multiple units (EMUs) and will not need a locomotive to propel them along electrified tracks.
The M-9A passenger vehicles for New York are part of Alstom’s Adessia commuter rail portfolio. The wide range of high-floor multiple units and coaches is available in single-deck or double-deck configurations and are suitable for all climatic conditions. They can run between 120-200 km/h on electrified as well as non-electrified networks.
The contract is expected to create nearly 300 jobs across Alstom’s two production sites in upstate New York, many of which will be filled by members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union.
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