Bombardier Transportation awarded $267 million railcar contract

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September 1, 2010

By DAN HEATH Staff Writer The Press Republican Wed Sep 01, 2010, 04:42 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — New Jersey Transit Corp. has awarded Bombardier Transportation a $267 million contract for 100 MultiLevel commuter railcars to be assembled in Plattsburgh.

Maryanne Roberts, U.S. spokesperson for Bombardier Transportation, said the company expects to call back 75 to 85 employees when work starts in fall 2011.

Currently, between 130 and 140 employees work at the Plattsburgh plant, she said.

FINAL ASSEMBLY HERE

The railcar shells would be built at the company plant in La Pocatiere, Quebec, and final assembly would occur in Plattsburgh.

It is the second contract with NJ Transit for that type of railcar. Under a 2003 contract, the company provided 329 MultiLevel units, which are now in operation.

“We are proud to be a partner with NJ Transit in offering rail transportation as a solution for increasing mobility, reducing congestion and benefitting the environment and the regional economy,” Bombardier Transportation North America President Raymond Bachant said in a press release.

“This new order for our reliable, safe and comfortable equipment illustrates the confidence NJ Transit places in Bombardier and our products.”

OPTION FOR MORE

Roberts said the work contract is expected to last a little more than a year.

The contract contains an option for up to 79 additional railcars.

STABILIZATION

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said the chamber has been working actively with Bombardier in support of this order.

“In every one of our frequent meetings in Washington over the past year, we have stressed the need to help Bombardier and Nova Bus secure more work, and our Washington partners really went to bat on this, including Senator (Charles) Schumer, Senator (Kirsten) Gillibrand and Congressman (Bill) Owens.

“This should help stabilize the Bombardier operation here while we all continue to support them in ongoing efforts to secure orders,” Douglas said.

“The same is true for Nova Bus. In fact, we’ll be back in Washington in a couple of weeks to continue the quest.”

RIPPLE EFFECT

Schumer said the announcement bodes well for the future of Bombardier and the North Country.

“This is proof positive that Bombardier, with its world-class workforce, is one of the greatest railcar manufacturers in the country,” he said in a statement.

“When Bombardier prospers, it helps the entire region to prosper, as the economic benefits ripple out into the surrounding communities. I will continue to do what I can to help Bombardier, Nova Bus and other transit companies around the state land these major contracts.”

REGROWTH

Owens said he was encouraged by the contract.

“I’m very excited because this means it will stabilize Bombardier in this community and retain the jobs Bombardier has been struggling to maintain in Plattsburgh.”

The announcement comes on the heels of good news from the other side of his district. Owens said five more jobs were recently added at the Sunoco ethanol plant in Oswego, after its start-up created 60 the year before.

Additionally, Birds Eye Foods announced 35 new jobs, also in Oswego.

“We are starting to see some regrowth of employment across the district, which is exciting news,” Owens said.

GOOD-PAYING JOBS

Gillibrand said the contract is great news for the North Country.

“These federal dollars will fund good-paying jobs for the people in the region and lead to important improvements in transportation infrastructure for neighboring communities, allowing New Yorkers to benefit from less congested and more efficient commutes to and from New Jersey,” she said.

City of Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak said the announcement was outstanding news for the North Country.

“I am very confident that, with these commitments, Bombardier will remain in the area long-term and employment there will remain solid and consistent.

“The efforts by our local elected officials and business leaders have resulted in this excellent news.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Roberts said the Chicago Transit Authority continues to conduct in-service testing on 10 prototype railcars. Bombardier plans to build the shells and perform final assembly of 406 railcars in Plattsburgh, if given the green light on that contract, she said.

E-mail Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com