Mafersa coaches

Mafersa coaches are railroad cars originally built for Virginia Railway Express. They are currently operated by Connecticut Department of Transportation and QIT-Fer et Titane.

Mafersa Coach
A consist of Mafersa coaches leaving Old Saybrook station in 2018
Interior of a CDOT coach on Shore Line East service in 2018
ManufacturerMafersa
Constructed1991–1992
Entered service1992
Number built38
Operator(s)
Line(s) servedNew Haven Line from Stamford North, Shore Line East from New Haven to New London, Hartford Line from New Haven to Springfield
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Car length85.3 feet (26.0 m)[1]
Width10 feet (3.0 m)[1]
Height13.29 feet (4.05 m)[1]
Floor height51.5 inches (1,310 mm)
Doors2 pairs end doors, manual operation
Maximum speed90 miles per hour (140 km/h)
Power supply480 V AC
Coupling systemAAR type H
Track gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Description

The ConnDOT cars operate on Shore Line East and the Hartford Line. Because of their lack of automatic doors, the Shore Line East cars are prohibited from running into Grand Central Terminal. In addition, the undercarriage clearances preclude running at more than 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) in third rail territory as found south and west of Pelham. Hence, ConnDOT does not use them in the Metro North Railroad equipment pool. The cab cars are numbered 1701–1719 (odd numbers only, with restrooms). The coach cars are numbered 1730-1774 (even numbers only, no restrooms). They are limited to 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) while in service on most trains.

History

Mafersa built the coaches new for the Virginia Railway Express at $24.7 million.[2] VRE sold 33 of the coaches to the Connecticut Department of Transportation in 2004 for its Shore Line East service.[3] QIT-Fer et Titane, a Quebec mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2008.[4]

Routes served

These coaches are used by CTrail on their Shore Line East and Hartford Line services. They are operated as far west at Stamford and as far East as New London. Kawasaki M8 Railcars are intended to be introduced on Shore Line East on services from Stamford or New Haven to Old Saybrook. The Mafersa Coaches will then be moved to the Hartford Line, except for some which will run services to New London.

References
  1. 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. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  4. Taube, Richard K. (11 August 2008). "Chronology of the Virginia Railway Express: 1964 to Present" (PDF). Virginia Railway Express. Retrieved 16 November 2015.


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