Mafersa coaches

Mafersa Coach
Mafersa coaches in Shore Line East service, 2018
Interior of a Mafersa coach, 2018
ManufacturerMafersa
Constructed1991–1992
Entered service1992
Number built38
Operators
Line servedHartford Line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Car length85.3 ft (26 m)[1]
Width10 ft (3 m)[1]
Height13.29 ft (4.05 m)[1]
Floor height51.5 in (1.31 m)
Doors2 per side, manually operated
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)
Power supplyHead end power (480 V AC at 60 Hz)
Braking systemAir
Coupling systemJanney Type H Tightlock
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

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 owned and operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for use on the CT Rail service and by the Canadian mining company QIT-Fer et Titane.

History

Mafersa built the coaches new for VRE for US$24.7 million (equivalent to $57 million in 2025).[2]

VRE sold 33 of the coaches to CTDOT in 2004 for its Shore Line East service.[3] The CTDOT cars were used for Shore Line East service until 2022, then moved to Hartford Line service.[4]

QIT-Fer et Titane, a Canadian mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2007 for its private industrial rail service after submitting an unsolicited proposal to VRE for $1.75 million, or $350,000 per car. According to VRE officials, the company planned to convert the former passenger coaches into dormitory cars for transporting employees to and from its mining operations near Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec.[5][6]

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 early 2027.[7][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia. ISBN 0-911382-20-8.
  2. ↑ Middleton, William D. (1994). North American commuter rail 1994. Pasadena, CA: Pentrex. p. 16. OCLC 32665882.
  3. ↑ "Connecticut State Rail Plan 2012–2016" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. 2012. pp. 37, 238. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  4. ↑ Hartley, Scott A. (May 24, 2022). "Connecticut replaces diesel Shore Line East trains with electric multiple-unit equipment". Trains (magazine).
  5. ↑ Operations Board Meeting Minutes (Report). Virginia Railway Express. March 16, 2007. p. 4.
  6. ↑ Taube, Richard K. (August 11, 2008). "Chronology of the Virginia Railway Express: 1964 to Present" (PDF). Virginia Railway Express. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Alstom to supply 60 single-level coach cars to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for its statewide rail system" (Press release). Alstom. August 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Governor Lamont Announces Purchase of 60 New Rail Cars to Modernize Commuter Rail Lines" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. August 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ Rowan, Andrew (November 24, 2025). "See inside CTRail's new multi-million dollar European-style rail cars". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved May 18, 2026.

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