New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently approved the Wabtec R255 Hybrid Battery-Diesel Work Locomotive for maintenance operations on the agency’s subway network. Pennsylvania-based Wabtec Corp., a equipment, systems, digital solutions and services provider for the freight and transit rail industries, manufactures the locomotives.
“These hybrid work locomotives will enable the MTA to realize its ambitious capital plan to improve subway operations by replacing an aging fleet and improving reliability,” said Alan Hamilton, Vice President of Engineering for Wabtec. “It also supports a cleaner subway system for their commuters and employees, as well as a reduction in fuel consumption.”
The MTA placed its order in 2020 to replace a fleet of diesel locomotives built in the 1960s and 70s. The approximately 500-kilowatt hour, R255 hybrid locomotive uses battery power for up to eight hours while conducting work in confined work zones. In areas where third rail power has been removed for safety, the batteries can move work trains. This feature allows the locomotive to reduce, or eliminate, fuel emissions during subway construction, maintenance, and repairs.
The locomotives are equipped with onboard monitoring and diagnostics systems, a digital video recorder, and external and internal cameras.
The locomotives were tested on New York City Transit Authority’s subway.