Governor Kathy Hochul of New Yoork has announced a major expansion of Metro-North Railroad’s railcar fleet, including the introduction of the first battery- and electric-powered passenger locomotives in North America. These new trains will provide New Haven Line service to Penn Station and connect four additional stations in the Bronx.
“New York’s transport system sets the standard for clean and reliable transit in North America, and we are further expanding and modernising our transit system to better connect every community across the state,” said Governor Hochul. “I am committed to advancing environmentally-friendly and clean modes of transportation — that’s how we fight the climate crisis while delivering faster and more efficient service to riders.”
Metro-North battery-electric locomotives: A first for North American passenger rail
The new locomotives will be powered by a combination of battery and electric energy, offering a zero-emission alternative to traditional diesel-powered trains. They will primarily draw power from overhead catenary wires but will switch to battery mode when operating in and around Penn Station, where the electrical system differs. The trains will be based on Siemens Mobility’s European Vectron platform, adapted for North American rail operations.
“Transit is the antidote to climate change, and these locomotives — the first ever in North America — demonstrate, again, the MTA’s commitment to using innovation to green the region,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi highlighted the transformative impact of the upcoming Penn Access service, stating, “In a few years, Metro-North’s Penn Access service will revolutionise how New Haven Line customers travel around the region, creating a link between communities in the Bronx and employment opportunities in West Midtown and along the New Haven Line in Westchester County and Connecticut.”
MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Programme Tim Mulligan emphasised the potential of the new technology, saying, “These new locomotives, powered exclusively by electricity but capable of operating on non-electrified lines via battery, will take a technology that is common in Europe and use it to revolutionize railroading in North America.”
Siemens Mobility North America President and CEO Marc Buncher added, “On behalf of the more than 4,500 Siemens Mobility team members in the U.S., we are thrilled to bring battery/electric locomotives to the New York Metropolitan region. These American-made locomotives will help to reinvent rail travel, offering more reliable and sustainable travel for millions of commuters each year.”
Next Steps in the Project
Pending approval from the MTA Board, which is anticipated on Wednesday, Metro-North will purchase 13 battery- and electric-powered locomotives by exercising an option within an existing contract with Siemens Mobility North America. This contract already includes 33 dual-mode locomotives capable of operating under diesel or third-rail power.
The new locomotives will resemble Metro-North’s SC42-DM diesel-electric models, unveiled in November 2024. They will operate in a push-pull configuration, similar to Metro-North’s current diesel trains.
This development marks a significant step toward modernising New York’s rail network while advancing clean, sustainable transport for the region.
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