Alstom Adds 120 Manufacturing Jobs in Plattsburgh

The rails are humming louder in upstate New York. Alstom, the global rail manufacturing leader, announced in October 2025 that it plans to hire 120 manufacturing workers at its Plattsburgh facility, a tangible sign that America's sustainable transportation buildout is creating real jobs, not just policy promises.

The company held a job fair on November 6, 2025, at its 71 Wall Street facility to fill positions in assembly, crane operations, welding, and industrial painting. For the Adirondack region, this represents a jump from about 350 to about 470 workers at a plant that has been a local economic anchor since 1995.

The Contract Driving Growth

Alstom's hiring surge stems from its contract to manufacture 374 state-of-the-art commuter rail cars for NJ TRANSIT. It follows another large New York order earlier in 2025.

In July 2025, Alstom secured a $2.3 billion contract from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build 316 M-9A commuter rail cars, with work split between Plattsburgh and the company's Hornell, NY location. Alstom expects the contract to create nearly 300 jobs across its two upstate New York sites.

"We are happy to be entering such a strong growth phase and to continue to support the Adirondack region's economy," said Jeff Lambert, managing director of Alstom's Plattsburgh plant.

The math is straightforward: America's aging transit infrastructure needs replacement, and Alstom is positioned to deliver. Once the 120 new employees are added, the Plattsburgh facility's workforce will total approximately 470 workers, up from the current 350.

What the Jobs Offer

All positions are full-time and permanent. Alstom describes the pay and benefits as generous, including health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and paid time off. Managers planned to interview candidates at the November 2025 job fair and said they could make some conditional job offers the same day.

The roles aren't entry-level. Alstom seeks skilled workers with experience in specialized manufacturing: welders who can work with precision on rail car components, crane operators comfortable handling multi-ton assemblies, industrial painters who understand the rigorous quality standards for transit vehicles, and assembly technicians versed in complex mechanical systems.

"We offer competitive pay and benefits and the opportunity to build a high-quality product," Lambert said in the company announcement, emphasizing the plant's importance to the industrial base of the Adirondack region.

Alstom employs more than 86,000 people globally and has been named one of the "World's Best Employers" by Forbes.

Plattsburgh's Rail Legacy

Alstom's history in Plattsburgh dates back to 1995, when the plant was run by Bombardier. Alstom took it over when it completed its purchase of Bombardier Transportation in January 2021. The plant's track record speaks to American manufacturing capability.

The Plattsburgh facility is the birthplace of 4,000 cars for the New York City subway, more than 1,000 for San Francisco BART, and hundreds of others for Chicago, Maryland, and New Jersey transit systems.

North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas praised Alstom as part of a successful local manufacturing cluster. He said the hiring, coming on top of continued growth at regional manufacturer Micro Bird, marks the start of a very positive period for the area's transportation equipment cluster.

The facility's role goes beyond local impact. For the MTA order, Alstom says bogies (undercarriages) will be assembled in Plattsburgh, car body shells will be built in Hornell, and propulsion systems will be made in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

What Is Driving Rail Car Demand?

Much of the demand is about replacing old equipment. The new M-9A cars will replace 40-year-old M-3 cars, the oldest model running on the LIRR and Metro-North commuter lines, according to Alstom.

Federal money is part of the picture too. The US Department of Transportation says the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $66 billion specifically focused on rail projects, the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak.

Manufacturing Momentum

The Plattsburgh hiring is one example of rail manufacturing growing in specific US sectors: complex systems, precision manufacturing, and large-scale assembly. Alstom says its new Plant 4 in Hornell was built expressly to reshore car body shell production to the US.

Rail manufacturing requires significant capital investment, skilled labor, and proximity to customers, all factors that favor domestic production. Unlike consumer electronics or basic textiles, you can't easily offshore the assembly of commuter rail cars.

Alstom is identified as a global leader in rail infrastructure, offering a comprehensive range of products and services including rolling stock, signaling systems, and infrastructure solutions. The company's willingness to expand US manufacturing capacity signals confidence in long-term American transit investment.

For the 120 workers hired in this round, the jobs offer skilled, full-time manufacturing work with benefits, building products that serve a clear public need.

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