First ALSTOM-renovated subway cars enter service on
Washington Metro

l,42.jpg

WMATA chose ALSTOM in December 2000 to overhaul 364 cars,
originally built between 1983 and 1988, of its rapid transit
fleet. As of September 2003, ALSTOM had received 40 cars to be
rehabilitated, and the project is scheduled for completion and
final delivery to WMATA in December 2005. The rehab work, which
is being carried out at ALSTOM’s facilities in Hornell and
Rochester, New York, should add 20 years to the life of the
vehicles.

As part of the modernization, ALSTOM has completely
refurbished the metro cars, replacing the existing propulsion
systems with its ONIX TM 2000 AC traction drives, and installing
an advanced cab-signaling system. This will significantly reduce
the cars’ energy consumption and maintenance costs, while
improving overall reliability.

Reliability, ease of maintenance and energy management will be
further enhanced by the new heating, ventilation,
air-conditioning, door and friction-brake systems, as well as by
the vehicle-monitoring system installed by ALSTOM. There are also
electronic destination signs at both ends of each car and audio
next-stop announcements, designed to comply with the Americans
with Disabilities Act regulations.

In addition, the cars are getting a new interior design
featuring cover seats in colors reflecting the three
jurisdictions WMATA serves: Colonial Burgundy for Virginia,
Chesapeake Sand for Maryland and Potomac Blue for the District of
Columbia.

“This is the largest single contract that Metro has ever
awarded in our long and distinguished history,” said
Richard A. White, Metro’s general manager and chief
executive officer at the time of the contract’s award.
“The rehabilitation of these 364 cars will be a major
benefit to our customers.”

“From our Hornell facilities, we have delivered more
than 3500 remanufactured cars to American cities in the past 17
years,” adds Francis Jelensperger, ALSTOM’s senior
vice president for the Americas. “We are proud to be able
to provide to WMATA this experience and expertise in renovation
projects and thank WMATA for this prestigious
contract.”

WMATA transported 181 million people by rail in 2002 and is
the second-largest rail transit system in the nation.

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in more than
60 countries, ALSTOM's Transport sector offers complete
products and services for new rolling stock, signaling and
electrical and mecanical infrastructure as well as maintenance
and rehabilitation services to four distinct types of
customers: urban transit authorities and operators; intercity
passenger rail operators and rolling stock owners; rail freight
operators; and intercity railway infrastructure owners.
ALSTOM's Transport sector, with sales of €5.1 billion in
financial year 2002-2003, is among the world's leading
suppliers to the railway industry.

Press information:

Helen Connolly

Tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 91 43

helen.connolly@transport.alstom.com