Rolling Stock
In contrast to the electric multiple units used on Metro-North's New Haven Line, which are also purchased in part by the state of Connecticut, all SLE trains are diesel push-pull trains.
SLE runs diesel service because Amtrak had not yet electrified the Northeast Corridor between New Haven and Boston at the time service began. The original SLE service operated with 2 F-7s and 10 Pullman-Standard coaches purchased from Pittsburgh's PATrain. The cab cars were refitted with head-end power generators, as the locomotives did not have this feature since the train had been steam-heated while operating in Pittsburgh. These cars were retired not long after service began, as SLE was intended to be temporary itself.
In 1991, ConnDOT purchased Bombardier Shoreliner III coaches, similar to ones already used on the Danbury Branch and Waterbury Branch and leased GP-38s and one GP-7W from Guilford Transportation Industries. In 1994, ConnDOT purchased rebuilt SPV-2000 railcars from Amtrak, known as Constitution Liners. In 1996, SLE took delivery of six GP40-2H diesels to replace the entire motive power fleet. As of 2008, the Shoreliner coaches have been moved to Metro-North, and the Constitution Liners have been retired.
In late 2004, SLE purchased 33 single level Mafersa coaches from Virginia Railway Express (VRE), to increase its fleet size and accommodate higher ridership, as well as to provide a critical reserve in case of mechanical breakdown. Mindful of the weather-related equipment failures that plagued both Connecticut commuter railroads in the winter of 2003-2004, Governor Jodi Rell directed that the new cars be put into service immediately, without even taking time to paint them in SLE livery. By late 2007, all former VRE coaches were rehabilitated inside and out.
In 2008, Shore Line East purchased P40's from Amtrak which had been previously leased. CDOT logos are now patched over the Amtrak logos, although the Amtrak paint scheme remains.
The new M8 railcars, already in use on the New Haven Line, are equipped to also draw power from the 25 kV AC lines in use east of New Haven, and are planned to eventually be used for Shore Line East service.
Read more about this topic: Shore Line East
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