IAM leadership was on hand to join IAM Local 2471 (District 19) members as Alstom opened its newest operation, Car Body Shell Plant 4, in Hornell, New York. The $75 million manufacturing and testing facility brings railcar body manufacturing from Brazil back to Alstom’s facilities in the southern tier of western New York state. Alstom has pledged to retain union jobs and create more union jobs for IAM Union members working at this Hornell location.
The funding was made possible in part by up to $7 million being made available through New York State, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, as well as past state investments totalling up to $30 million.
“This is telling our members that Alstom is making the investment so that they’re going to be here in Hornell, New York for future generations,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “I was honored to come here today to celebrate the grand opening of this facility, and we look forward to the day that this facility is at full capacity.”
The first large order for the new facility is to manufacture 200 multilevel rail cars for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail lines. The newer cars will be equipped with modern internet features, greater capacity, and smoother rides.
The new plant features state-of-the-art, welding robots along an integrated assembly line. The robots will make tens of thousands of welds on each car shell making its way down the line, but human workers are needed to finish and check the automation process.
“The company has told us that there is a high demand for welders here in Hornell that is hard to keep up with, and the IAM hopes to secure the wages, benefits, and compensation for these in demand crafts,” said IAM Union Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.
Current IAM members at the existing plants in Hornell are completing the order for the newest Amtrak trainsets named the “Aveila Liberty.” These high speed trains will reach speeds of 160 miles per hour on Amtrak’s northeast corridor from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Twenty-eight “tilting” trains provide a smoother ride for customers, with updated modern conveniences, and one third more capacity over the existing Acela trainsets that are over a quarter century old. Aveila Liberty trainsets are expected to be in operation before fall of this year.
“We make the train bodies in plant 1, plant 2 we build the traction motors, plant 3 is basically our warehouse,” said Alstom IAM Local 2741 Secretary/Treasurer Armin Bishop-Miller. “Hopefully, when Plant 4 gets up and running the right way, we can get people in here and help this company grow.”
Hornell has a long history with the railroad industry, with the Erie Station headend connecting four different rail lines dating back to the 1860’s. Rail carriers have changed names over the years, but the tracks and legacy of this town’s roots in railroading are strong.
The Hornell plant has delivered over 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across North America, including 1,000 subway cars to New York City Transit. Now with this fully integrated facility in the southern tier of New York State, and the fine craftsmanship of the IAM members, railcars will continue to roll out of the city of Hornell.
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