Wabtec's MotivePower Unit Signs Contract With MBTA For New Passenger Locomotives

WILMERDING, Pa., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- MotivePower, a unit of Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB), has signed a contract with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to supply 20 next-generation HSP46 passenger locomotives to be delivered in 2012-2013.  The order is valued at $114.63 million including training, manuals and spare parts. 

The EPA Tier 3-compliant locomotives will be manufactured in Boise, Idaho with major components supplied by GE Transportation of Erie, Pa.  GE also will work closely with MotivePower on design, integration and testing.  Major components supplied by GE from its Erie and Grove City, Pa. facilities will include diesel engines, head-end power systems, computer control systems and its unique individual-axle AC traction systems.  The project is expected to create or retain 1,246 jobs.

"Commuter rail agencies across North America demand safe, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally responsible service, and locomotive power is a key ingredient," said Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our next-generation locomotives and this order from MBTA solidify MotivePower as the leading supplier of passenger locomotives in North America.  The new design, with advanced AC traction and remotely monitored on-board diagnostics technologies, also positions us to lead the way in developing locomotives for the higher-speed rail corridors of the future."

MotivePower's new HSP46 design leverages a broad spectrum of U.S.-based engineering and manufacturing capabilities to set the new standard for performance expectations in the industry, with improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and lower life-cycle costs compared to DC-traction locomotives.  The locomotives include the following components and systems manufactured by Wabtec units:  Fastbrake electronic air brakes, air compressors, event recorders, tread brake units, brake shoes, aftercoolers and radiators.

The combination of MPI's leading integration expertise and GE's fuel savings, emissions reduction and AC traction technologies is poised to deliver the most reliable and efficient passenger locomotive to date. 

"The MPI and GE Transportation partnership provides passenger application expertise from the two largest North America passenger locomotive manufacturers and the highest level of USA-manufactured locomotive content," said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation.  "We look forward to helping to produce the nation's next-generation higher-speed passenger locomotives."

GE's leading technology components were developed for GE's Evolution Series Locomotive, which represents a $400 million, eight-year investment by GE.  Today more than 3,700 GE Evolution Series locomotives are in revenue service around the world.  The Evolution Series locomotives are noted for fuel savings, emissions reduction, reliable performance and lower total life-cycle cost.

Wabtec Corporation is a global provider of value-added, technology-based products and services for rail and other industrial markets. Through its subsidiaries, the company manufactures a range of products for locomotives, freight cars and passenger transit vehicles. The company also builds new switcher and commuter locomotives, and provides aftermarket services. The company has facilities located throughout the world. MotivePower (www.motivepower-wabtec.com) is an industry leader in the design, manufacture and re-manufacture of diesel-electric locomotives.

Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation (www.getransportation.com), a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier that provides freight and passenger locomotives, signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, high-quality replacement parts and value added services.

SOURCE Wabtec Corporation