Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB) has secured a $386 million follow-on order from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to supply additional R255 hybrid battery-diesel work locomotives.
The contract represents a significant advancement in the MTA’s Capital Plan aimed at modernizing the city’s transit infrastructure and enhancing the safety and effectiveness of its maintenance operations.
The expanded agreement covers both the locomotives and spare parts.
Wabtec will manufacture the R255 units at its design and development center in Erie, Pennsylvania, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027.
The new hybrid locomotives will replace older equipment, delivering greater reliability and operational efficiency while helping improve air quality throughout the network.
They form a key element of the MTA’s broader modernization program, supporting the authority’s long-term goals for safe and sustainable transit.
Designed specifically for maintenance work, the R255 offers substantial benefits in confined tunnel environments by operating emission-free on battery power during construction, repairs, and extended work-site operations.
Equipped with approximately 500 kWh of battery capacity, the locomotives can run in battery-only mode for several hours and maneuver work trains even when third-rail power is deactivated.
Additional advanced features include onboard cameras and video recorders that capture detailed images of tracks, lineside assets, and signaling equipment, along with integrated diagnostics to enable predictive and smart maintenance practices.