Wabtec Corp. secured a $386 million follow-on order to deliver additional R255 hybrid battery-diesel work locomotives to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The order is a major step in the Authority’s Capital Plan to revitalize the city’s transit network infrastructure and improve the capabilities and safety of its maintenance crews.
“The success of the R255 hybrid locomotive is a tribute to the strong working relationship between Wabtec and the MTA,” Wabtec Vice President of Engineering Alan Hamilton said in a release. “Our collaboration positioned this locomotive as the ideal solution to maintain the subway system efficiently and reliably.”
The expanded agreement includes both locomotives and spare parts. Wabtec will build the R255s at its design and development center in Erie, Pennsylvania, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2027.
These state-of-the-art hybrid locomotives will replace aging equipment, offering enhanced reliability and operational efficiency while improving air quality across the network. The locomotives are a cornerstone of the MTA’s broader modernization efforts, aligning with the authority’s long-term strategy to deliver safe and efficient transit solutions.
The R255 hybrid locomotive benefits MTA maintenance crews by improving working conditions, especially in tunnels. It can eliminate emissions by utilizing battery power during subway construction, maintenance, and repairs, especially during extended periods at a work site. The approximately 500-kWh locomotives can operate in “battery only” mode within confined work zones for several hours and can move work trains when third-rail power is deenergized.
The locomotive also features advanced capabilities that further empower the maintenance crews and support their day-to-day work. Each R255 is equipped with cameras and video recorders to capture images of the track, lineside assets, and signaling equipment across the network. It also features onboard diagnostics to support smart maintenance practices.
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