Chicago’s Metra Metropolitan Rail (Metra) has contracted STV to provide procurement support for battery-powered trainsets.
STV is a professional services firm specialising in infrastructure projects across North America. Its role in this project will include quality assurance, engineering, and administrative services.
Metra’s 154 million USD base order includes eight two-car trainsets that will be among the first all-electric models to operate in the United States.
The trainsets will feature low-level boarding and lifts to ensure accessibility. Each two-car set will accommodate 112 passengers, with additional trailer cars providing 46 extra seats. Other features will include information displays, bike racks, luggage storage, and USB charging points.
A fully charged trainset is expected to travel between 45 and 50 miles. Charging from 20 percent to 80 percent using a fast-charge system is estimated to take around 20 to 30 minutes.
Austin Longshore, Senior Engineer and Project Manager at STV said:STV has a long-standing relationship providing various engineering and advisory services to Metra and is quickly becoming a leading provider of zero-emission engineering support for bus, and now rail transit, making us uniquely qualified to assist Metra with this initiative.
We’re excited to partner with Metra on this innovative procurement that will be among the very first in the United States to leverage all-battery electric technology for passenger rail.
STV has been involved in several zero-emission projects, including consulting for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority and designing a maintenance facility for electric buses in Massachusetts. The firm has also contributed to rail and transit projects across North America, including work on dual-powered locomotives for NJ TRANSIT and MTA Metro-North Railroad in New York.
This collaboration with Metra marks another step forward in the transition to electric transport, contributing to the reduction of emissions in public transit.
