Massachusetts Approves Fleet Upgrade with 10 New Battery-Electric Trains

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) board of directors voted unanimously to approve a $310.4 million purchase of a new generation of battery-powered public transit trains. William Wolfgang, the MBTA’s senior director of vehicle engineering, noted that the system has an immediate need for locomotives to replace the oldest units in the fleet, specifically GP40s built over 50 years ago and F40s well over 30 years old. According to an MBTA presentation, 13 of the GP40s have exceeded their useful life, while the F40s will reach the end of their lifecycle between 2029 and 2035. The order consists of 20 Siemens-built Charger locomotives: 10 Tier 4 diesel-powered hybrid electric units and 10 dual-mode battery/catenary electric units. Integrating the battery-electric units with existing cab cars presents operational challenges that will require coordination with railroad operations, engineering, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen during the design review process. Funding for the $310.4 million total bill comes from a combination of state and federal sources, featuring a recent $200 million transfer from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The contract also includes an option for additional locomotives. Deliveries of the Siemens Charger trains are scheduled to begin in 2029, with all 20 units expected to enter service by the end of 2030. Siemens has delivered 440 Charger model hybrid- and battery-electric locomotives globally.