A consist of Mafersa coaches leaving Old Saybrook station in 2018.

(Interstate Railfan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

MAFERSA COACHES

The Mafersa coaches are a class of 38 passenger railroad cars built by Brazilian manufacturer Mafersa. Originally built for Virginia Railway Express (VRE) in 1991–92, they are currently operated by Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) for CT Rail service and by QIT-Fer et Titane.

 

Interior of a CTDOT coach on Shore Line East service in 2018.

(Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

History

Mafersa built the coaches new for VRE for $24.7 million. VRE sold 33 of the coaches to CTDOT in 2004 for its Shore Line East service. QIT-Fer et Titane, a Quebec mining company, purchased the remaining five cars in 2008. The CTDOT cars were used for Shore Line East service until 2022, then moved to Hartford Line service.

In August 2023, CTDOT approved a contract with Alstom for 60 single-level passenger cars, which will replace the Mafersa coaches in Hartford Line service (as well as Shoreliner cars on other lines) beginning in 2026.

 

Overview

Manufacturer: Mafersa
Constructed: 1991–1992
Entered service: 1992
Number built: 38
Operators: CT Rail, QIT-Fer et Titane
Lines served: Hartford Line from New Haven to Springfield
Specifications
Car body construction: Stainless steel
Car length: 85.3 feet (26.0 m)
Width: 10 feet (3.0 m)
Height: 13.29 feet (4.05 m)
Floor height: 51.5 inches (1,310 mm)
Doors: 2 pairs end doors, manual operation
Maximum speed: 90 miles per hour (140 km/h)
Power supply: 480 V AC
Coupling system: AAR type H
Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge