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Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra) board members in mid-January approved a $79.4 million order for 26 new locomotives. And April 5, Metra and Boise, Idaho-based MotivePower Inc., a Wabtec Corp. subsidiary, sealed the deal.


"We’re very excited to be chosen for this important Metra project," said Gregory Davies, Wabtec president and chief executive officer, in a prepared statement. "Our Boise facility has a long history of serving commuter railroads with highly efficient, cost-effective new locomotives and we look forward to a similar working relationship with Metra."


The locomotives will be aerodynamically styled and have stronger collision and corner posts. They also will have greater fuel capacity, higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions. And they’ll offer passengers increased comfort through electronically controlled air brakes, head end power and an onboard heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.


MotivePower will begin design and engineering immediately in order to provide a prototype by late 2002. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in first-quarter 2003 and conclude a year later.