Stadler and Chicago’s commuter rail operator Metra will present the first battery-electric FLIRT train developed for the US market at APTA EXPO 2026 in Chicago on 5 October.
Metra ordered eight battery-electric FLIRT trainsets as part of plans to introduce zero-emission rolling stock to its network. The trains are expected to enter passenger service by 2028.
The train is based on Stadler’s FLIRT platform and uses onboard lithium-ion batteries to operate on non-electrified routes without producing local emissions. The approach allows battery-electric trains to operate on existing rail corridors without requiring full route electrification.
The trains can be recharged using existing 480V electrical connections at yards and terminals, dedicated charging infrastructure and regenerative braking, according to Stadler.
Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler North America, said:As transit agencies across North America explore practical pathways toward reducing emissions, battery-electric rail technology is becoming an increasingly attractive solution. We are proud to present the first U.S. battery FLIRT and demonstrate how innovative vehicle technology can help agencies achieve their sustainability, service, and operational goals.
The trainsets will provide Metra with an alternative to diesel operation on routes where conventional electrification could require substantial infrastructure investment.
Battery-electric multiple units can also provide regenerative braking and electric traction, which can reduce local emissions and noise compared with diesel trains.
Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski said:This purchase demonstrates Metra’s commitment to cleaner power, to quieter trains, and to thinking outside the box as we plan for our future. We are excited to bring this technology, and its efficiency, flexibility, and reliability, to Chicago and to our riders.
Stadler has already deployed battery-electric versions of the FLIRT in Europe. Its FLIRT Akku trains entered passenger service in Germany in 2023, operating on partially electrified regional routes and replacing diesel services.
The European deployments provide an existing operational reference for the technology as US transit agencies examine alternatives to diesel traction and full corridor electrification.
At APTA EXPO, Stadler will also showcase its wider alternative-propulsion portfolio, including battery-electric and hydrogen-powered rail vehicles.
The official presentation of the Metra battery-electric FLIRT is scheduled for 1:30 pm on Monday 5 October at Stadler’s exhibition stand at APTA EXPO 2026 in Chicago. Stadler and Metra executives will be available to discuss the train and the wider application of battery-electric rail technology in North America.
