en.Wedoany.com Reported - Alstom has delivered 11 new double-deck trains for the Sounder commuter rail system in the Seattle metropolitan area, Washington, USA, which have been received and put into service by operator Sound Transit.
The new fleet includes 3 cab cars and 8 intermediate cars, all manufactured at Alstom's facility in Plattsburgh, New York. The trains officially entered service this month, boosting line capacity ahead of major sporting events in Seattle this summer.
The new trains feature several passenger convenience improvements: USB ports and power outlets at every seat, more theater-style seating, increased legroom in some seats, and redesigned bicycle racks. Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine stated that passenger safety and experience are the operator's core focus, and these new trains bring substantial improvements in comfort and performance for Sounder passengers.
In terms of safety, the vehicles are equipped with Crash Energy Management (CEM) technology, which absorbs impact energy through energy absorption zones at each end of the cars and energy-absorbing couplers between cars during a collision. The cab cars also feature full-width windshields to improve driver visibility.
Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas, noted that major sporting events this summer present significant opportunities for North American cities, and public transit must be capable of responding. He mentioned that Sound Transit has made substantial investments to ensure the Puget Sound region is prepared, and Alstom is proud to contribute through the new Sounder trains, which increase capacity, enhance safety and comfort, and help deliver the reliable, high-quality service that the region's communities depend on.
Alstom classifies the Sounder trains under its Adessia commuter train series, designed for urban-suburban connections with speeds ranging from 120 to 200 km/h, adaptable to both electrified and non-electrified lines. According to company data, Alstom has sold over 45,000 rail vehicles to more than 60 commuter rail systems in over 15 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia, transporting more than 20 million passengers daily. In the United States, Alstom states it has delivered over 12,000 new or modernized vehicles to multiple transit agencies and airports, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, and New Jersey. Alstom also notes that it manufactured the first American-made high-speed train and, as the leading private rail operator in the U.S., transports millions of passengers daily for over 15 clients in the rail and airport sectors.
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