Chicago Metro Trains to Be Manufactured by Alstom's New Factory

Alstom has officially opened its state-of-the-art Factory 4 in Hornell, New York, marking a pivotal step in the reshoring of stainless steel train car body production to the United States. This $75 million investment solidifies Hornell's status as the largest passenger train manufacturing hub in the U.S. and highlights the growing significance of southern New York as a rail industry hub. Spanning 135,000 square feet, the new facility will provide additional production capacity and manufacturing support for Alstom's other projects.

The car body manufacturing process involves welding major components to form 80-foot-long modular assemblies. At Factory 4, fully automated welding robots, operated via advanced AI technology, ensure tens of thousands of welds are precision-controlled within 1 millimeter, achieving safe, efficient, and accurate production standards. The establishment of the new factory further reinforces Hornell's position as a national rail transportation manufacturing center while helping the U.S. rail industry strengthen its domestic supply chain system.

As planned, Factory 4 will produce the first batch of 200 double-deck commuter rail vehicles for Chicago's Metra system. The car bodies, previously manufactured in Brazil, are now produced domestically—a breakthrough that not only enhances the autonomy of the U.S. rail supply chain but also consolidates Alstom's manufacturing footprint in the United States.