New 4,200-hp Siemens Charger locomotives received last year for testing by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began passenger service on Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line at the start of Climate Week NYC, Monday, September 22.

The new locomotives support MTA's sustainability goals, according to a release, by reducing airborne pollutants by 85%, all while producing 1,000 more hp than the current fleet.

"Metro North is charging into the future with faster, greener, and more reliable locomotives," Governor Hochul said. "There is no better way to kick off climate week than by further enhancing the emissions-reducing power of mass transit. I will always be a champion for New York's commuters, and by modernizing our Metro-North fleet, tens of thousands of riders every single day will have a smoother, faster ride."

"Transit is already the antidote to climate change, and it's only getting cleaner and greener as we replace Metro-North's aging diesel fleet with top-of-the-line diesel-electric locomotives," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. "These are just the first of many new trains to come as part of the MTA Capital Plan's $11 billion investment in new rolling stock."

New Locomotives Bring Long-Term Investment in Faster Service

The new locomotives will be able to travel farther under electric power than the current fleet of locomotives, the GE P32s, which operate under electric power only in the tunnels in and out of Grand Central Terminal, a distance of four miles. They can operate in electric mode the entire 102 miles of Metro-North's third rail territory.

Additionally, the new locomotives are compliant with Tier 4 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's vehicle emission standards, significantly reducing emissions and noise pollution in densely populated areas across the State of New York. 

According to the release, enhanced reliability is made possible by ultramodern monitoring and diagnostic systems that allow crews to spot and fix issues quickly.

"Metro-North couldn't be more excited to bring these powerful, reliable, and green locomotives to our railroad," Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek said. "With these on time, on budget, and American-made locomotives, we are making a significant, long-term investment in the service we provide. These locomotives are key to our transition to a faster and cleaner fleet in the coming years. Like everything we do at Metro-North, this is all possible thanks to the hard work of our employees." 

"The Charger locomotives entering revenue service are more than just trains. They represent our shared commitment to modern and reliable transportation for millions of passengers," Rolling Stock Siemens Mobility North America President Tobias Bauer said. "Built right here in the U.S., these locomotives combine cutting-edge technology with proven performance, and we're honored to celebrate this moment alongside our partners at the MTA at Grand Central Terminal." 

Metro-North Invests in Dual Mode Charger Fleet

In 2021, the MTA's Metro-North Railroad placed an order with Siemens Mobility for 27 Dual Mode Charger locomotives, known by the model number SC42-DM. These locomotives operate on both diesel-electric and third-rail electric power, enabling them to run on all of Metro-North's non-electrified lines and switch to electric power for electrified routes, including in Grand Central Terminal.

These locomotives are being manufactured at the Siemens Mobility rolling stock facility in Sacramento, CA, and delivered to Metro-North through 2027. 

The purchase of these new Siemens Charger locomotives was funded by the MTA's 2015-19 and 2020-24 Capital Plans, along with funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).