RSS Launches Locomotive Leasing for Commuter Railroads

Rolling Stock Solutions has launched to provide commuter rail agencies “with proven locomotive power, built to like-new condition, on flexible lease terms.” (Image Courtesy of Rolling Stock Solutions)

Rolling Stock Solutions, LLC (RSS) on June 10 reported that it is rebuilding a fleet of F40PH locomotives for lease to commuter railroads; deployment is slated to begin in mid-2023.

RSS said it was established “to help commuter rail agencies meet an urgent service delivery challenge—replacing end-of-life diesel-electric locomotives with new capacity that is cleaner and more reliable.”  

Boston, Mass.-based Alternate Concepts, Inc.—a full-service operator of heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail and bus services throughout the U.S.—is a strategic partner, and private equity firm Adelphi Capital Advisory is a sponsor.

RSS has teamed with CAD Railway Industries and its U.S.-based partner Metro East Industries to overhaul an initial fleet of F40PHs.

The company said the locomotives will offer a 20-plus-year service life, “providing an immediate reliability improvement and lower maintenance cost”; will include a fully rebuilt prime mover and Tier 4 HEP, delivering “a significant reduction in NOx, hydrocarbon, and PM10 emissions and improved fuel efficiency”; and will be 100% Buy America compliant, so “RSS lease contracts will be eligible for FTA [Federal Transit Administration] capital investment funding.” Additionally, the units will be built to standard specs, allowing them to “seamlessly integrate into agencies’ existing fleet operations and maintenance programs,” and will include a fully rebuilt electronics package to “enable installation and integration of an agency’s Positive Train Control system,” according to RSS, which will provide flexible lease terms.

“Having spent two decades at the intersection of government operations and finance, I know well the imperative for agency leaders to deliver reliable, best-in-class transit service on a tight budget,” said RSS CEO Phil Puccia, who is a former Deputy General Manager for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and an investment banker. “We believe the RSS lease fleet provides commuter rail operators with a new, flexible resource to sustain and strengthen their service posture at a reasonable cost.”