Comet (railcar)

Comet railcar series
Company type	Railcars
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Pullman-Standard (original designer and manufacturer)
Founded	Late 1960s
Founder	Pullman-Standard
Area served	North America
Products	Locomotive-pulled commuter railcars
Parent	Bombardier Transportation (later manufacturer), Alstom (later manufacturer)

The Comet railcar series, initially conceived in the late 1960s by Pullman-Standard, comprises a category of locomotive-pulled commuter railcars extensively utilized by transit agencies throughout North America. Eventually, NJ Transit adopted the Comet name for all its non-powered, single-level commuter coaches. Later iterations were manufactured by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom, who expanded upon the foundational design’s achievements.

Comet I

The original Comet I fleet was produced by Pullman Standard between 1970 and 1973 for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, serving the diesel commuter routes of the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad. These cars were named in homage to the Jersey Central’s Blue Comet train and featured innovative all-aluminum construction along with head-end power (HEP). Their automated sliding doors designed for low platforms led to the nickname "Sliders." The total production included 155 units: 35 cab cars, 110 trailers, and 10 bar cars.

In 1987, Bombardier undertook a refurbishment program, enhancing numerous cab and trailer cars by adding high doors to meet ADA requirements and prepare for future high-platform stations. With NJ Transit taking over EL commuter operations, its branding was applied to the fleet. Bar cars were converted into standard coach configurations.

By 2005, low-door cars were gradually retired. Twenty-five units were sold to the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for use on FrontRunner service, while twenty were leased to California’s Metrolink in 2008 to address equipment shortages; these were returned in 2011. Additionally, Metrolink leased fifteen cars directly from NJ Transit in 2009 but discontinued their use after 2011. The low-platform design suited western commuter lines equipped with compatible stations. Eight Comet Is sold to SEPTA Regional Rail are now mostly stored, with one retained for maintenance duties.

NJ Transit withdrew its last Comet I vehicles in March 2009. Remaining units not preserved or sold were dismantled by 2010. FrontRunner retired its Comet Is on April 18, 2022, citing maintenance expenses and declining ridership; these cars were later auctioned. In May 2023, retired units were repainted with Ferromex logos and transported to the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad in September.

Several preserved examples are housed at institutions such as the Whippany Railway Museum (New Jersey) and the Southern California Railway Museum. In 2025, three Whippany units including Cab Control Car no. 5119 were sold to Cape May Seashore Lines.

Comet II

Following Bombardier Transportation’s acquisition of the design rights from Pullman, the Comet II cars were commissioned by NJ Transit between 1982 and 1983, consisting of 142 trailer coaches and 19 cab cars. A subsequent order known as Comet IIB was placed in 1988. These models incorporate long end doors equipped with trapdoors enabling operation at both low- and high-level platforms, resembling MBTA’s BTC-1 and CTC-1 cars built by Pullman Standard in 1978. Designed primarily for routes formerly run by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, these single-level units carried the "Comet" moniker. Major refurbishments conducted by AAI Corporation and Alstom from 1999 through 2003 enhanced their compatibility with Comet IV series equipment.

The Shoreliner I and II coaches, procured by Metro-North and the Connecticut Department of Transportation for non-electrified lines east of the Hudson River, represent variants lacking long doors. Similarly, Amtrak’s Horizon coaches do not feature extended automatic doors. Metro-North operated Comet II coaches on the Port Jervis Line until they were superseded by Comet V cars; afterward, these units were reassigned to the East-of-Hudson pool where they continue in service. Furthermore, both SEPTA Regional Rail and AMT acquired rolling stock derived from this design class.

Comet III

NJ Transit placed an order for the Comet III series in 1990. These cars are characterized by center doors and extended end doors equipped with traps that operate simultaneously. The Metro-North Shoreliner III models are a variation, lacking the extended door feature. Between 2009 and 2010, the Comet III fleet was phased out from active service and subsequently stored until 2022. At that time, the majority were dismantled—46 out of 49 units were scrapped at Neptune Yard near the Bradley Beach station, while one car remained housed at NJ Transit’s Meadowlands Maintenance Complex.

Metro-North possesses two Comet III cab cars initially numbered 5179 and 5180, which were sold to NJ Transit in 1998 and renumbered as 5009 and 5010. These vehicles returned to Metro-North ownership in 2008. In 2022, car number 5010 underwent conversion into a rail adhesion vehicle outfitted with high-powered lasers designed to remove leaf residue, thereby improving operational safety.

Comet IV

Introduced in 1996 specifically for NJ Transit’s new Midtown Direct service, Comet IV cars share a resemblance to the Comet III but differ notably by lacking a door adjacent to the engineer’s cab. Other distinguishing features include thicker black window stripes, both external and internal LCD displays for destinations and stations, refreshed interior color schemes, and power-operated saloon doors. The Metro-North Shoreliner IV fleet represents a variant without long doors.

After completion of the Comet V order, the cab controls on Comet IV cars were disabled in 2013, which prohibited their operation as lead or trailing units. Since then, these cars have functioned solely as blind coaches within train formations.

Comet V

The Comet V series was commissioned jointly by NJ Transit and Metro-North Railroad in 1999 and delivered between 2002 and 2004. Unlike earlier Bombardier-built models, these cars were produced by Alstom. Notable enhancements include stainless steel exteriors, enlarged windows, and prominently visible roof-mounted air conditioning units.

"Comaro" coaches

The "Comet" designation also extends to two NJ Transit coach orders linked to the Arrow EMU series. Nicknamed "Comaros"—a fusion of "Comet" and "Arrow," alluding to the Chevrolet Camaro—these coaches have unique operational backgrounds.

Comet IA

In 1978, ten Comet IA cars (comprising two cab cars and eight trailers) were constructed by General Electric for the MTA. These utilized surplus shells from Avco and Canadian Vickers, originally intended for the "Arrow III" EMU fleet. Primarily assigned to the Port Jervis Line, these units were retired in 2004 and scrapped by 2006.

Comet IB

This series originated from the rebuilding of thirty former Penn Central Arrow I EMU cars (manufactured in 1968–69 by the St. Louis Car Company), which encountered mechanical difficulties leading to their withdrawal by 1980. Recognizing the durability of their car bodies, NJ Transit transformed them into unpowered coaches for non-electrified routes during 1987–88 through Morrison-Knudsen. After approximately twenty years of service, they were retired in late 2008; some were temporarily leased to Exo’s predecessor agency, Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT).

Amtrak California refurbishment

In 2008, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) purchased fourteen Comet IB coaches from NJ Transit at $75,000 each to alleviate overcrowding on the San Joaquin line. These cars underwent refurbishment at Amtrak’s Beech Grove facility to adapt them for inter-city rail use. Upgrades included reclining seats with tray tables arranged four per row, additional luggage racks, restrooms, Wi-Fi access, and six workstation tables per car. Twelve cab cars were converted into trailer coaches by removing control equipment and sealing windows; these were paired with Non-Powered Control Units that provide cab controls alongside baggage compartments.

Although initially scheduled for deployment in July 2013, refurbishment delays postponed entry into service until March 2013 when the first coach (5008, formerly NJT 5165) was completed. The inaugural refurbished "Comet car" trainset began operation on October 21, 2013, followed by a second set in April 2014. Plans call for these Comet cars to be replaced by new Siemens Venture trainsets; subsequently, they will be reassigned within Southern California on alternate routes.

On June 27, 2024, six Comet railcars along with two EMD F40PH NPCU cab cars arrived in Los Angeles via the Coast Starlight service. Presently, they function as backup or emergency equipment on the Pacific Surfliner line when bi-level trainsets are unavailable.

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