Transit news from MTA and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

The first of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) new 4,200-horsepower, dual-mode Charger locomotives entered passenger service on the Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line on Sept. 22, according to an MTA press release. The new locomotives are able to travel via electric power the entire 102 miles of Metro-North's third rail territory, compared to the current fleet of locomotives, which operates only under electric power in the tunnels in and out of Grand Central Terminal, New York City. The switch to electric power reduces airborne pollutants by 85%. The MTA ordered 27 Charger locomotives in 2021 using funding from its 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 capital plans with support from the Federal Transit Administration. Siemens Mobility Inc., Sacramento, California, is manufacturing the units. The remaining units are being delivered to MTA through 2027. 

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's (GCRTA) board on Sept. 23 voted to exercise a contract option for the purchase of up to six new rail cars from Siemens Mobility. The approved purchase is another step toward fulfilling the full $450 million contract for the purchase of 60 total Siemens Model S200 rail cars, as well as infrastructure modifications, railroad connections, engineering, testing, training, field support, spare parts and special tooling, GCRTA officials said in a press release. The Federal Transportation Administration, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and the GCRTA funded the purchase of rail cars.