New Yorkers can expect a greener (and faster) commute in the future.
Governor Kathy Hochul revealed that new Metro-North locomotives are set to service the New Haven Line to Penn Station and four additional stations in the Bronx. What makes the Siemens Mobility Charger locomotives special is the fact that they’re the country’s first battery-and electric-powered fleet.
“I am committed to advancing environmentally-friendly and clean modes of transportation — that’s how we fight the climate crisis while delivering faster and more efficient service to riders,” the governor said in a statement.
Based on Europe’s electrical platform, the Vectron, these trains will draw electrical power from overhead wires known as catenary. Once the passenger trains venture closer and closer towards Penn Station, they’ll make a switch over to battery mode, since the station’s electrical traction power has different characteristics.
Though these passenger cars are a debut, the MTA hopes it will set the precedent for other states in the country to follow suit.
“On behalf of the more than 4,500 Siemens Mobility team members in the U.S., we are thrilled to bring battery/electric locomotives to the New York Metropolitan region. These American-Made locomotives will help to reinvent rail travel, offering more reliable and sustainable travel for millions of commuters each year,” said Siemens Mobility North America President and CEO, Marc Buncher.
Learn more about the passenger trains on MTA.info.