Metra Displays New Battery-Powered Trainset at APTA EXPO
10/19/2026
Metra and Stadler presented Metra’s first battery-powered trainset at APTA’s EXPO in Chicago, IL, before welcoming riders and local officials to LaSalle Street Station for a closer look. The new zero-emission equipment—the first battery-powered trainsets planned for operation in North America—is expected to enter service in 2028 after approximately one year of testing.
Metra is purchasing eight, four-car trainsets from Stadler U.S. of Salt Lake City, UT, with an option for eight more. The single-level trains use onboard lithium-ion batteries to provide electric service where conventional electrification may be impractical or too costly. They can recharge through existing cabling in yards and terminals, dedicated charging infrastructure, and regenerative braking.
The agency says the smaller trainsets could provide a more economical and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel equipment, particularly during off-peak periods. The new equipment will replace some of Metra’s oldest locomotives and railcars and reduce carbon emissions in South Side Chicago communities and nearby suburbs.
Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said, “These zero-emission trainsets will be cleaner and quieter, and we hope they will play a key role in helping Metra to operate more frequent, all-day service and improve connectivity with CTA [Chicago Transit Authority] and Pace.”
“This project is about more than a new train … It is about bringing proven technology to new markets, and it is about helping shape the future of transportation in North America,” said Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler North America.
The purchase is supported by a $169.3 million multiyear federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant allocated by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Funds from the former Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)—now the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority—bond program contribute toward the required 20 percent local match, while Metra is using FTA formula funds, RTA bonds, Rebuild Illinois bonds, and state PAYGO funds for the remainder.
CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman said, “Strengthening regional rail is a priority identified in our 2026 Regional Transportation Plan, and innovations like this can help deliver cleaner, more reliable service, and connections for people and communities across northeastern Illinois.”