MBTA diesel locomotive overhaul plans moved forward this week after the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s board approved spending of about $253 million on Thursday, Dec. 18, as reported by Trains. The program will overhaul 40 commuter-rail diesel locomotives used across the agency’s network.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

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Photo: Keolis

Contract, fleet background, and project cost

The overhaul centers on the MBTA’s HSP46 locomotives, built by Motive Power Inc. (MPI) of Boise, Idaho, under three orders placed between 2010 and 2013. The first of those units entered service in 2014. After MPI was purchased by Wabtec, the company was selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process and is slated to receive $222.7 million. The remaining portion of the overhaul figure covers in-house work and other expense.

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What the MBTA diesel locomotive overhaul will change?

Board presentation materials describe a midlife overhaul intended to address identified deficiencies, replace obsolete components, and integrate modernized technologies. The stated aim is to ensure parts and technology availability that supports at least 15 years of service life. MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan told the Boston Globe the midlife overhaul “is 100% expected.”

Timeline and HSP46 technical details

The project timeline calls for a pilot locomotive to be delivered in December 2028, followed by the first production unit due by February 2029, with completion of the project by March 2032, according to a board presentation. The MBTA is the only operator of the HSP46, a 4,600-hp, B-B, AC locomotive powered by GE GEVO 12-cylinder prime movers.

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