During the October 26, 2017 regular meeting, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ( Metro) Board exercised the option to have Talgo overhaul the remaining 36 of the 74 heavy rail vehicles (HRV's) for an amount of $18.3 million.
Metro awarded a contract to Talgo for a total value of $72.9 for the overhaul of 74 A650 HRV’s in September 2016. The contract included a base order of 38 cars and an option for 36 additional cars. The goal of the overhaul work is to improve the performance of the Metro Red Line A650 HRV’s by replacing and/or overhauling critical Vehicle systems and subsystems.
"Today's decison enables Talgo to expand its production base and provides Metro with economies of scale for the rest of the A650 fleet", stated Talgo’s U.S. subsidiary CEO Antonio Perez.
Talgo ramped up work when the first vehicle from Metro arrived to our Milwaukee facility on June 15, 2017. Talgo is currently in the Engineering phase of the project, and production will start on April 2018. "Talgo's team is working diligently and in close coordination with Metro to ensure that we meet their expectations and increase the safety, availability and reliability of Metro's’s Red Line Fleet” said Project Manager Ferran Canals.
The railroad has issued a formal request for proposals to manufacturers for more than 800 new passenger railcars that will serve 14 long-distance routes nationwide.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
BART recorded 5,403,140 exits in March, making it the highest monthly ridership since the pandemic and surpassing the previous high set in October 2025 (5,346,890 exits).
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
