The Massachusetts Department of Trannsportation’s (MassDOT) board recently approved the purchase and/or lease of up to nine new commuter-rail locomotives from the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) — the first time in 17 years that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) would operate new locomotives.
The UTA has a surplus of new locomotives and MBTA is negotiating with the agency to determine the exact number of units to be procured and either leased, purchased or both, according to MassDOT. The new 3,600-horsepower, diesel-electric locomotives could enter passenger service this fall.
The purchase price for each locomotive is $3.5 million, which includes the modifications necessary to ensure that each unit is ready for immediate entry into MBTA’s fleet, state officials said in a prepared statement. Federal grants will cover 80 percent of the purchase costs.
“This is a great opportunity for us to get some quick help for our aging fleet of locomotives,” said MBTA General Manager Richard Davey.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
MBTA to acquire new locomotives from Utah Transit Authority
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