Policy Update: The MBTA is Buying New Commuter Rail Locomotives
November 4, 2026
At the October convening of the MBTA Board of Directors on October 22, 2026, the MBTA awarded a $310 million contract to Siemens to manufacture and deliver new, service-ready locomotives for the Commuter Rail system. Here’s what to know about the contract and what this means for the Commuter Rail:
Locomotive Contract Key Points
The MBTA is buying ten EPA Exhaust Emissions Standards (EES) “Tier 4” diesel-electric locomotives and ten dual mode battery/catenary locomotives, with an option to purchase up to 50 more of either type of locomotive. As learned from the MBTA’s February 2026 Regional Rail update, Siemens will build the Tier 4 diesels to the most stringent emission standard for diesel locomotives, corresponding with a 90% reduction in particulate matter emissions, an 80% reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, and a significant reduction in noise pollution compared to the current fleet.
The battery/catenary locomotives will be fully electric, sourcing their power from overhead catenary wires, and will be ready to deploy on the Providence/Stoughton Line, which shares electric infrastructure with Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC). This also means that these new trains will not be able to travel on most lines in the Commuter Rail system.
The MBTA anticipates that pilot locomotives will arrive in mid-2029 (diesels) and in mid-2030 (battery/catenary), and Siemens will deliver all locomotives by 2031.
How Does this Procurement Fit in with Plans for the Commuter Rail?
These locomotives are a critical investment to maintain current levels of service in the near-term, while also providing benefits in terms of air quality and noise pollution improvements.
The MBTA is working on plans to modernize the Commuter Rail, which includes building on its 2020 Rail Vision report to dramatically increase service and frequency through the electrification of the system. Unfortunately, the capital funding for most of this work is not currently available.
Meanwhile, the age and condition of MBTA Commuter Rail vehicles is a growing problem, so identifying resources to buy new trains will need to be a top priority in the next few years. Over half of the existing Commuter Rail fleet will reach its end of useful life in the 2030s and roughly 15% of the MBTA’s current Commuter Rail fleet is already past its useful life. In fact, if the MBTA took no action today, it would not have enough vehicles to run current levels of Commuter Rail service in 2033. Identifying resources to solve the upcoming “locomotive fleet cliff” will need to be a top priority in the next few years.
More Near-Term Improvements in Commuter Rail Service to Come
This latest investment in new Commuter Rail locomotives will align with two other capital investment projects funded in the FY 2027-2031 Capital Investment Plan set to improve service. The MBTA spending plan includes $276 million to purchase 67 bi-level Hyundai Rotem Commuter Rail coaches, and another $395.9 million to buy an additional 80 bi-level coaches.
These investments will enable the MBTA to fully replace its single-level coaches with new cars that have higher capacity for passengers and automatic doors that can reduce operational inefficiencies and accessibility challenges associated with existing vehicles with manually-operated doors.
What to Look for Next
As a reminder, the current Commuter Rail Operation & Management Contract with Keolis will expire on June 30, 2027. The MBTA anticipates selecting the next operator in December 2026.
The A Better City Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory Committee will be meeting on November 10, 2026, to begin planning for the 2027 Policy Agenda, which will consider a variety of timely issues regarding the MBTA Commuter Rail. To join us for the Advisory Committee meeting, please reach out to Leann Kosior, Membership & Business Development Manager (lkosior@abettercity.org), for more details.
For general comments, questions, or concerns regarding the Commuter Rail, please reach out to Amir Wilson, Transportation Policy & Data Manager (awilson@abettercity.org), or Kate Dineen, President & CEO (kdineen@abettercity.org).
