Metra Unveils First US Battery-Electric FLIRT Locomotive — SkimNews
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- Metra ordered eight battery-electric FLIRT trainsets from Stadler — which CEO Martin Ritter called "the first US battery FLIRT" — with the first unit arriving in time for the American Public Transportation Association conference at Chicago's McCormick Place starting Sunday.
- The new trainsets will replace aging diesel locomotives on the Beverly branch of Metra's Rock Island Line between La Salle St. and Blue Island, with passenger service expected to begin before the end of 2027.
- Each FLIRT trainset seats 112 passengers, can attach an additional trailer car for 46 more riders, and features low-level boarding, ADA-compliant lifts, open gangways, USB outlets, bike racks, and luggage racks.
- A fully charged trainset has a range of 45 to 65 miles and can charge from 20% to 80% — enough, per Metra, to complete its run — in about 30 minutes.
- Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski said the agency "will be the first in the country to have battery-powered passenger vehicles," predicting riders will say "Wow!" when they see the new trains.
Why it matters: Riders on Metra's Beverly branch of the Rock Island Line will see cleaner air as diesel locomotives are replaced by Stadler's battery-electric FLIRT sets, which Metra's executive director calls the first US battery-powered passenger trains. With a 45-65 mile range, just 112 seats per set, and service not starting until late 2027, the real-world test for US battery rail is still two years out.
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