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1/7/2026
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 (MTA).
The expanded agreement includes 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, according to a Wabtec press release.
The hybrid locomotives will replace aging equipment, offering improved reliability and operational efficiency while contributing to improved air quality across the network, Wabtec officials said. The order advances MTA's capital plan to revitalize its network infrastructure.
The new locomotives also will help improve working conditions for authority's maintenance crews, especially when they work in rail tunnels. Use of the new locomotives can eliminate emissions by utilizing battery power during subway construction, maintenance and repairs, especially during extended periods. The approximately 500-kwh locomotives can work in battery-only mode within confined work zones for several hours and can move work trains when the third rail power is deenergized.
Additionally, the R255 locomotive will help maintenance crews in their day-to-day work. Each unit has 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.