Metra to convert locomotives to battery power

Metra's board yesterday approved a plan to convert up to six of the Chicago commuter railroad's oldest diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery power.

The railroad's contract with Progress Rail Services Corp. calls for a base order of three locomotives, with options for three additional units, Metra officials said in a press release. The total cost for all six conversions — which will be completed at Progress Rail's facility in Patterson, Georgia — is $34.6 million. The base order is expected to take three-and-a-half years to complete.

"This procurement puts Metra on the cutting edge of battery-powered technology and demonstrates our commitment to innovation and cleaner energy," said Metra CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski.

Metra plans to test the new locomotives — which will have an estimated range of 150 miles per charge — on the Rock Island Line. Charging stations will be designed later and placed in the main yard and at a yet-to-be-determined outlying point.

The transition will help the railroad reduce its emissions footprint and improve air quality in the Chicago region, Metra officials said. The new locomotives will also be less noisy and have lower operating and maintenance costs.

The battery-powered locomotives might be painted in a green version of Metra's standard paint scheme to indicate the use of green technology.