Electro-Motive Diesel to produce low-emission locomotives for Metrolink

Progress Rail Services Corp. subsidiary Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD) has signed an agreement with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to supply up to 20 EMD F125 low-emission Spirit-series passenger-rail locomotives for operation on Metrolink.

The agreement will make Metrolink the first passenger railroad to purchase new transit locomotives designed to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions standards in North America, EMD officials said in a press release. In addition, the pact marks EMD's re-entry into the passenger locomotive market, they said.

Delivery is slated to begin in 2015. The EMD Spirit complies with the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act's 305-005 Next Generation locomotive specifications, and meets or exceeds Metrolink's requirements for procuring fuel-efficient locomotives, EMD officials said. The Spirit is designed to operate at speeds up to 125 mph, enabling it to meet potential speed requirement increases, they said.

In addition, the locomotives are designed to reduce emissions over the current Tier 0 fleet by more than 85 percent, per the EPA's Tier 4 emissions standards for new diesel locomotives.

The Spirit locomotive consists of a streamlined Vossloh Rail Vehicle (VRV)-designed single-shell carbody with one control cab equipped with crash energy management; a turbocharged, 20-cylinder; 4-stroke Cat® C-175 20 diesel engine; an AC-traction propulsion system; VRV high-speed running gear; inverter controlled head end power; and all the accessories necessary for single and multiple unit operation suitable for commuter and intercity service, EMD officials said.

The locomotives will be assembled at EMD's plant in Muncie, Ind.