The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has awarded Alstom a contract to provide operations, maintenance, and customer services for its regional rail network. Effective January 1, 2025, the contract spans five years, valued at $515 million USD (€490 million EUR), with an option for a three-year extension.
The agreement expands Alstom’s responsibilities from maintenance, a role it has held since 1998, to full operational services. This includes train operations, customer service, fleet and facilities maintenance, and materials management across Metrolink’s 545-mile network. The fleet consists of 258 passenger cars and 60 locomotives, servicing six counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego.
Alstom plans to retain 180 employees and hire an additional 200 to manage the expanded scope of work. The company will also oversee operations for the Arrow service in San Bernardino County, although maintenance of the diesel and hydrogen-powered multiple units used in the service will remain outside its scope.
Metrolink has announced plans to integrate North America’s first hydrogen powered Zero Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) into its Arrow service in 2025. While Alstom will manage train operations for this addition, the maintenance responsibilities for the ZEMU will be handled separately.
This contract positions Alstom as a leading private operator in North America, with operational projects across the United States and Canada.
