MBTA Spends $104M to Upgrade Green Line Trolleys

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The MBTA has paid a New York company $104 million to refurbish 86 Green Line trolley cars, some which are 25 years old.

“This is a great first step in our ongoing efforts to improve service on the country’s oldest light rail line,” interim MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola said in a statement.

This news comes after the MBTA had essentially its worst winter ever, as record snowfall shut down the transit system for days at a time.

The first refurbished Green Line trolley car was returned to service this week. All 86 trolley cars will be delivered by the end of next year.

The upgrades include:

• New heating/coolings systems
• Lighting
• Replacement of floors, seats, and insulation
• Overhauled brakes, propulsion systems, and power supply

New York-based Alstom is performing the work.