Metro-North Selects STV to Procure First-of-its-Kind Battery Electric Locomotive 

The locomotives will be among the first battery electric passenger rail vehicles in the U.S. 

NEW YORK, NY — STV today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad selected the firm to provide engineering and procurement support for new battery electric locomotives. STV is performing design reviews, test coverage and vehicle inspection services for this program. 

The locomotives, which are modeled after the Siemens Mobility Charger SC42-DM dual-powered locomotives that STV is also supporting, will be among the first battery electric passenger rail vehicles in the United States. The locomotives will be used as part of a new service that will bring Metro-North’s New Haven Line directly to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.  

“Our intimate experience with MTA and Metro-North’s vehicle fleet, specifically the SC42-DM locomotives, has helped deliver this cutting-edge innovative solution for the agency,” said John Batey, PE, vice president of vehicle engineering at STV. “In addition to providing more convenient access to New York City from Connecticut and Westchester County, these new locomotives will provide riders with a cleaner, greener option.”  

The purchase of 13 battery and electric-powered locomotives is an add-on to Metro-North’s existing contract with STV to procure 33 dual-mode locomotives from Siemens. The locomotives will generally draw from overhead catenary power and then switch to battery mode for tracks in and around Penn Station, where electrical traction power is used.  

The initiative is part of a larger push in the transportation industry to provide more economical and environmentally-friendly options to commuters, while advancing long-term operational goals. This includes Metro-North’s first dual-mode locomotive, for which STV provided design reviews, test coverage and vehicle inspection services. 

STV has played a leading role in facilitating the transition to zero-emission technology for leading public agencies, including a wide range of technical consulting services for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority; designing the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s first maintenance facility to accommodate zero-emission buses in Quincy; and helping to secure a $29.5 million Clean School Bus Grant for New York City School Bus Umbrella Services. The firm is also a recognized provider of vehicle procurement and engineering services for rail and transit projects throughout North America, including programs supporting some of the nation’s only dual-powered (electric and diesel) locomotives for NJ TRANSIT and MTA Metro-North Railroad in New York. 

About STV

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,300 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 34th in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 11th in its transportation category. Learn more at stvinc.com.