Chicago Metra calls its new battery-electric locomotive a first of its kind

Metra’s diesel-engined commuter trains are familiar sights in and around Chicago, and so is the smell of spent diesel that surrounds them – but a new battery-electric FLIRT locomotive from Stadler is about to change all that, and it’s set to arrive this week.

Officially dubbed the Flinker Leichter Innovativer Regional-Triebzug (FLIRT), the German-designed battery-electric locomotive promises a (wait for it …) fast, light, and innovative rapid transit solution that drops right into Chicago’s regional rail system, replacing aging diesel locomotives along the Beverly branch of Metra’s Rock Island Line between La Salle St. and Blue Island, where the trains are expected to significantly improve air quality for the people who live, work, and travel near the rails.

“As transit agencies across North America explore practical pathways toward reducing emissions, battery-electric rail technology is becoming an increasingly attractive solution,” said Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler North America. “We are proud to present the first US battery FLIRT and demonstrate how innovative vehicle technology can help agencies achieve their sustainability, service, and operational goals.”

Metra ordered eight of the FLIRT-y fun battery-electric trainsets from Stadler as part of its commitment to cleaner, more efficient, and more flexible passenger transportation solutions. The new battery-electric locomotives are expected to enter passenger service before the end of 2027 – but you won’t have to wait until next year to see one. The first trainset is on the way to Chicago now, and will be exhibited at the American Public Transportation Association conference at Chicago’s McCormick Place starting this Sunday.

URBANIZE Chicago reports that the trainsets will have low-level boarding and will be equipped with lifts to make them ADA-compliant, with each set expected to seat up to 112 people and the ability to attach an additiona trailer car for 46 more riders. The single-level trainsets will have open gangways so riders can move freely from car to car, and will include such features as passenger information signs, bike racks, luggage racks, and USB outlets. A fully charged trainset is expected to have a range of 45 to 65 miles on an undisclosed battery pack, with the ability charge from 20 to 80% (enough, Metra claims, for the trainset to complete its run) in about 30 minutes.

Metra executives, for their part, think the public will like what they see. “We’ll be the first in the country to have battery-powered passenger vehicles,” said Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski in a recent meeting. “When you go in there, you’re going to say, ‘Wow!’ Then, you’re going to say, ‘Can I go for a ride?'”