Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans for Metro-North Railroad to introduce battery- and electric-powered locomotives for the Penn Station Access project, marking a nation first.

This initiative is part of an expansion to provide New Haven Line service to Penn Station. The project aims to enhance connectivity between the Bronx and Midtown Manhattan while supporting environmental goals.

A Metro-North locomotive

© Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The new locomotives will primarily draw power from overhead catenary wires but will switch to battery mode in areas where electrical traction power differs, such as Penn Station.

The vehicles will be based on Siemens Mobility’s European Vectron platform, representing an adaptation of this technology for North America.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said:

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.

Pending approval from the MTA Board, Metro-North plans to procure 13 battery- and electric-powered locomotives by exercising an option on an existing contract with Siemens Mobility North America.

This contract also includes 33 dual-mode locomotives that operate under diesel or third-rail power.

The new locomotives are expected to have similar characteristics to Metro-North’s recently unveiled SC42-DM diesel/electric locomotives and will be used in push-pull configurations with coach cars, depending on travel direction.

MTA Chief of Rolling Stock Program Tim Mulligan said:

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 revolutionise railroading in North America. The battery/electric locomotives will enable Metro-North to provide reliable, extremely environmentally friendly service using existing electrified infrastructure.

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