MBTA orders 20 MotivePower locomotives
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Boise, Idaho-based MotivePower, Inc. of will supply 20 new diesel-electric locomotives to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority at a cost not to exceed $114.63 million under a contract approved Wednesday by the MassDOT board of directors.
“Delivery of the pilot locomotive will be within 29 months from notice to proceed with delivery of the production fleet to begin at month 32 with three locomotives to be delivered per month through month 38,” said MBTA’s announcement.
MBTA General Manager Richard Davey said the acquisition will have an immediate positive impact on regional rail operations. MBTA will remove the 20 oldest locomotives from service, eliminating associated mechanical failures.
The oldest of MBTA’s fleet of 80 are the 18 originally manufactured between 1978 and 1980. They were overhauled in 1989 and the locomotives were scheduled for retirement in 2005. Noting that locomotives generally have a useful life of 25 years, MBTA said that by FY2013, 68% of the locomotive fleet will be scheduled for retirement.
In addition to increasing service reliability, MBTA said the new locomotives will meet “Tier 3” emission standards as regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Advancing the delivery of this cleaner technology will reduce fuel consumption by approximately 730,000 gallons per year and will reduce the following in emissions per year: particulate matter—26 tons; hydrocarbons—38 tons; and oxides of nitrogen—by 924 tons,” said the agency. “Also, the reduction in fuel consumption will save an estimated $1.5 million annually.”
MotivePower, a Wabtec subsidiary, has informed MBTA that the contract will create or sustain 1,246 jobs.
