Shoreliner

Shoreliner
Metro-North Shoreliner IV on the Hudson Line
In service	1983-present
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Constructed	1983–1998
Entered service	Shoreliner I: 1983 Shoreliner II: 1987 Shoreliner III: 1991 Shoreliner IV: 1996
Number built	Shoreliner I: 39 Shoreliner II: 36 Shoreliner III: 49 Shoreliner IV: 60 Total: 184
Capacity	102–130
Operator	Metro-North Railroad
Lines served	Hudson Line, New Haven Line, Harlem Line
Specifications
Car length	85 ft (25.91 m)
Width	10.5 ft (3.2 m)
Doors	Shoreliner I and II: 4 Shoreliner III: 6 Shoreliner IV: 6 (5 on cab units)
Maximum speed	90 mph (145 km/h) (Limit) 120 mph (193 km/h) (Design)

Shoreliners are a class of locomotive-hauled rail car used by the Metro-North Railroad. They are similar to the Comet coaches used by New Jersey Transit. Ownership of the fleet is split between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), as part of the latter's operating agreement with the MTA. MTA coaches have blue window bands, while CTDOT coaches have red ones. Many of the Shoreliner cars are named in honor of people and places significant to their service area, such as The Connecticut Yankee and Washington Irving.

The Shoreliners are primarily used on non-electric territory such as the upper Hudson Line north of Croton-Harmon, on the upper Harlem Line north of Southeast station, and the New Haven Line's Danbury and Waterbury branches. They are typically operated in a push-pull configuration.^[1][2] Several sets were used for Shore Line East service in the early 1990s until used equipment was acquired.^[3]

Models

The Shoreliner I and Shoreliner II cars were built in 1983 and 1987, respectively, and were based largely on the design of the Comet II cars built for New Jersey Transit. Both models have end vestibule doors and lack center doors. The Shoreliner I order consisted of 39 cars, while the Shoreliner II order added 36 cars. Cars numbered in the 6200 series, including 14 cab cars and 26 coaches, are owned by CTDOT, while the remaining cars are owned by the MTA.

Four Shoreliner I cars were originally equipped with underfloor head-end power generators for operation behind CTDOT's ex-freight locomotives that lacked onboard HEP capability. The generators were later removed after those locomotives were replaced by rebuilt GP40-2H units.

The Shoreliner III cars were introduced in 1991, with 49 cars built. Based on New Jersey Transit's Comet III design, they added a center door and relocated restroom facilities compared with earlier Shoreliner models.

The Shoreliner IV cars were based on the Comet IV design and built in two groups between 1996 and 1998. The first order, delivered in 1996 and 1997, consisted of 50 cars. A second order of 10 cars for CTDOT followed in 1998. Compared with the Shoreliner III design, the Shoreliner IV removed the engineer-side door on cab cars as a safety measure.^[4]

Future

In August 2023, CTDOT approved a contract with Alstom for 60 single-level Adessia passenger cars. The cars will supplement the existing Shoreliner coach fleet on the Waterbury Branch and the Danbury Branch, as well as the Mafersa coaches and leased MBTA MBB coaches on the Hartford Line. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.^[5][6]

In May 2026, Metro-North issued a request for proposals for 252 single-level coaches to replace the Shoreliner fleet. It would include an option for 377 additional cars to support potential service expansion. The contract is to be awarded in early 2027 with deliveries beginning in 2029.^[7]

Gallery

• 
  Shoreliner I entering Yonkers station.
• 
  Shoreliner II entering Tarrytown station.
• 
  Shoreliner III idle at Croton-Harmon station.
• 
  Shoreliner IV car enteres North White Plains station. Car 6222 was destroyed in the December 2013 Spuyten Duyvil derailment.

See also

• Horizon (railcar) – intercity railcars operated by Amtrak also based on the Comet design.

References

1. Hudson, Edward (February 16, 1986). "Commuters Rate New Metro-North Cars Set for Danbury". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
2. Hudson, Edward (February 16, 1986). "How Passengers Rate New Cars on Hudson Line". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
3. Middleton, William D. (1994). North American commuter rail 1994. Pasadena, CA: Pentrex. p. 30. OCLC 32665882.
4. Ferro, John (April 17, 2014). "Archive: Force of derailment toppled weighty trains". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
5. "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.
6. "Governor Lamont Announces Purchase of 60 New Rail Cars to Modernize Commuter Rail Lines" (Press release). Connecticut Department of Transportation. August 9, 2023.
7. "MTA seeks proposals for 252 new Metro-North commuter coaches". Trains Pro. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.

External links

Media related to Shoreliner at Wikimedia Commons