On June 2nd, local time, Alstom's newly built Plant 4 in Hornell, New York, with an investment of $75 million, officially started operation. This event marks the full relocation of the stainless - steel body production for its US projects from Brazil back to the United States, further solidifying Hornell's status as the largest passenger train manufacturing base in the nation.
The modern plant, covering an area of 125,000 square meters, is one of the few advanced production bases in the US capable of manufacturing stainless - steel bodies for passenger rail vehicles. It can not only meet the needs of Alstom's own projects but also provide additional production capacity for other businesses. The plant has introduced an AI - enabled robotic welding system, which can strictly control the accuracy of tens of thousands of welding points within 1 millimeter. It adopts an 80 - foot (about 24 - meter) large - component welding process and realizes modular body manufacturing through a digital production line. According to Alstom, these new technologies can reduce production costs by 15% and shorten the delivery cycle by 20%. Its first order is to produce 200 double - decker commuter rail vehicles for the Chicago Metra system.
" The operation of Plant 4 fulfills our long - term commitment to manufacturing trains in the United States and enhances our ability to provide high - level rail solutions," said Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. The project is expected to create 258 new jobs, including positions related to mechatronic engineering and robotics, while retaining 390 existing union - protected jobs.
At the commissioning ceremony, Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York State, emphasized, " By relocating high - quality union jobs, we are revitalizing the economy of New York State and making it a core of high - end manufacturing again. I am committed to promoting the development of the manufacturing industry and creating more job opportunities across the state." John Buckley, Mayor of Hornell, also pointed out, " Our long - term cooperation with Alstom is the key to Hornell becoming a hub of the rail transit industry. These investments not only bring high - quality jobs but also strengthen Hornell's leading position in rail transit innovation and manufacturing."
The project has received strong support from various federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Institutions such as the Empire State Development and the US Economic Development Administration have assisted in the project's implementation through subsidies and tax incentives. The completion of Plant 4 not only strengthens Hornell's industrial status but also further establishes the southern region of New York State as an important center of the nation's rail transit industry. At the same time, it injects strong impetus into the improvement of the domestic supply chain of the US rail transit industry.
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