NJ Transit took delivery of its first new Multilevel III rail car on April 13, 2026, and Denville commuters on the Morris and Essex Line should start seeing the upgrades later this year. The power car arrived at NJ Transit’s Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny from builder Alstom and kicks off a 374-vehicle order that runs through 2031.
The new cars are rated for 110 mph, up to 30 mph faster than the fleet they are replacing, and are expected to travel roughly 400,000 miles between breakdowns. That reliability figure is about ten times what the current fleet delivers, according to NJ Transit, which has struggled with mechanical failures and delays on Morris County routes.
For Denville riders, the amenities are the most visible change. Every row will have USB charging ports, and the cars will include digital signs and audio announcements that call out upcoming stops. The Morristown Line and the Montclair Boonton Line, both of which serve Denville station, are slated to benefit from the modernization.
NJ Transit says up to 40 additional Multilevel III cars are expected to enter passenger service by the end of 2026. The full order is part of a more than $3 billion investment to modernize NJ Transit’s rail and bus operations statewide.
Denville residents can track the rollout and schedule updates at njtransit.com.
