Metro-North Railroad has introduced its first Siemens Charger locomotives into passenger service on the Hudson Line, coinciding with the start of Climate Week NYC. The new 4,200-horsepower dual-mode locomotives promise improved reliability, reduced emissions and greater operating flexibility compared with the fleet they replace.
“Metro North is charging into the future with faster, greener, and more reliable locomotives. There is no better way to kick off Climate Week than by further enhancing the emissions-reducing power of mass transit,” Governor Kathy Hochul said.
Cleaner and more powerful
The Charger locomotives reduce air pollutants by 85 per cent and meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier IV emissions standards. They also deliver 1,000 more horsepower than the outgoing GE P32 fleet and are equipped with advanced monitoring and diagnostics to improve reliability.
Unlike the P32s, which operate in electric mode only in the four-mile tunnels into Grand Central Terminal, the new locomotives can run under electric power across Metro-North’s entire 102 miles of third-rail territory, covering the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said: “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.”
Fleet renewal under way
The introduction marks the start of a wider programme. Metro-North ordered 27 Siemens SC42-DM dual-mode locomotives in 2021, funded through the MTA’s 2015–19 and 2020–24 Capital Plans with additional support from the Federal Transit Administration. The locomotives are being built at Siemens Mobility’s facility in Sacramento, California, and will be delivered through 2027.
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.
Siemens Mobility North America President Tobias Bauer called the milestone “a shared commitment to modern and reliable transportation,” noting that the locomotives combine advanced technology with proven performance.
Local representatives welcomed the environmental and service improvements. Representative Pat Ryan described the fleet upgrade as “a transformative investment in cleaner air and more reliable service for Hudson Valley commuters,” while State Senator Peter Harckham said the new hybrid locomotives would “replace engines that are more than 30 years old, giving customers a more reliable commute and reducing maintenance costs.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins highlighted the wider benefits: “These new Siemens Charger locomotives will not only improve service for Metro-North riders, but will also help reduce emissions, protect public health, and move us closer to our climate goals.”
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino added that the locomotives would “significantly reduce air pollution” and bring particular benefits to communities along the Harlem and Hudson lines, which have many non-electrified sections.
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