Mafersa coaches
{{Infobox train
| background =
| name = Mafersa Coach
| image = A westbound train departs OSB.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| imagealt =
| caption = A consist of Mafersa coaches leaving Old Saybrook station in 2018
| interiorimage = Mafersa coach interior, September 2018.JPG
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption = Interior of a CTDOT coach on Shore Line East service in 2018
| service =
| manufacturer = Mafersa
| ordernumber =
| factory =
| family =
| replaced =
| yearconstruction = 1991–1992
| yearservice = 1992
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 38
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped =
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| diagram =
| code =
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| operator = {{Plainlist|
}}
| depots =
| lines = Hartford Line from New Haven to Springfield
| carbody = Stainless steel
| carlength = {{convert|85.3|feet}}{{cite book |title=The 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia |isbn=0-911382-20-8}}
| height = {{convert|13.29|feet}}
| floorheight = {{convert|51.5|inch}}
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = 2 pairs end doors, manual operation
| art-sections =
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| maxspeed = {{convert|90|mph}}
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| brakes =
| coupling = AAR type H
| gauge = {{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| notes =
}}
The Mafersa coaches are a class of 38 passenger railroad cars built by Brazilian manufacturer Mafersa. Originally built for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) in 1991–92, they are currently operated by Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for CT Rail service and by QIT-Fer et Titane.
History
Mafersa built the coaches new for VRE for $24.7 million.{{cite book | last=Middleton | first=William D. | title=North American commuter rail 1994 | date=1994 | publisher=Pentrex | location=Pasadena, CA | oclc=32665882 | page=16}} VRE sold 33 of the coaches to CTDOT in 2004 for its Shore Line East service.{{cite web | url=http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dplansprojectsstudies/plans/state_rail_plan/State_Rail_Plan_Final_Draft_8-24-12.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821221327/http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dplansprojectsstudies/plans/state_rail_plan/State_Rail_Plan_Final_Draft_8-24-12.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 21, 2014 | title=Connecticut State Rail Plan 2012-2016 | publisher=Connecticut Department of Transportation | date=2012 | accessdate=March 26, 2016 | pages=37; 238}} QIT-Fer et Titane, a Quebec mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.vre.org/vre/assets/File/VRE-Chronology.pdf |title=Chronology of the Virginia Railway Express: 1964 to Present |author=Taube, Richard K. |date=11 August 2008 |publisher=Virginia Railway Express |accessdate=16 November 2015}} The CTDOT cars were used for Shore Line East service until 2022, then moved to Hartford Line service.{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/connecticut-replaces-diesel-shore-line-east-trains-with-electric-multiple-unit-equipment/ |title=Connecticut replaces diesel Shore Line East trains with electric multiple-unit equipment |newspaper=Trains magazine |date=May 24, 2022 |first=Scott A. |last=Hartley}}
In August 2023, CTDOT approved a contract with Alstom for 60 single-level passenger cars, which will replace the Mafersa coaches in Hartford Line service (as well as Shoreliner cars on other lines) beginning in 2026.{{Cite press release |title=Alstom to supply 60 single-level coach cars to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for its statewide rail system |url=https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2023/8/alstom-supply-60-single-level-coach-cars-connecticut-department-transportation-its-statewide-rail-system |date=August 9, 2023 |publisher=Alstom |language=en}}{{cite press release |url=https://portal.ct.gov/dot/ctdot-press-releases/2023/governor-lamont-announces-purchase-of-60-new-rail-cars-to-modernize-commuter-rail-lines |title=Governor Lamont Announces Purchase of 60 New Rail Cars to Modernize Commuter Rail Lines |publisher=Connecticut Department of Transportation |date=August 9, 2023}}
References
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External links
- {{commonscat-inline|Mafersa coaches}}
Category:Passenger rail transportation in Virginia
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{{Virginia-transport-stub}}{{CTrail navbox}}