The order, Wabtec said, “is a major step in the Authority’s Capital Plan to revitalize the city’s transit network infrastructure and improve the capabilities and safety of its maintenance crews.”
In 2020, MTA awarded Wabtec the original $233 million contract for 25 R255s. For use on MTA New York City Transit work trains, they would replace a fleet of diesel-only locomotives built in the 1960s and 1970s. The option for 45 additional units, now exercised, had been expected to be funded through the 2020-2024 Capital Plan. They are now included in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan, in which MTA noted that approximately 44% of the NYCT work train fleet “is beyond its useful life and is due for replacement.”
MTA’s follow-on order covers the R255s, which continue to include Cummins engines (QSX15 Tier 4 Final) and Wabtec-developed battery packs, and spare parts. The locomotives (watch video below) will be built at Wabtec’s design and development center in Erie, Pa. They, too, will replace aging equipment, “offering enhanced reliability and operational efficiency while contributing to improved air quality across the network,” according to the supplier.
The R255 is said to benefit the MTA’s maintenance crews “by improving the working conditions, especially in the tunnels. It can eliminate emissions by utilizing battery power during subway construction, maintenance, and repairs, especially during extended periods at a work site.” The approximately 500-kWh locomotive can work in “battery-only” mode within confined work zones for up to eight hours and can move work trains when the third-rail power is deenergized, according to Wabtec. The locomotive also features cameras and video recorders to capture images of the track, lineside assets, and signaling equipment across the network, plus “onboard diagnostics to support smart maintenance practices.”
Wabtec delivered the initial R255s in May and June 2024; they underwent a series of comprehensive acceptance tests on NYCT that focused on safety, performance, interoperability, and reliability, including a capstone performance test of two R255s operating with a full train of m/w cars over the Manhattan Bridge. MTA certified their use in early 2025.
“The success of the R255 hybrid locomotive is a tribute to the strong working relationship between Wabtec and the MTA,” Wabtec Vice President for Engineering Alan Hamilton said. “Our collaboration positioned this locomotive as the ideal solution to maintain the subway system efficiently and reliably.”
Further Reading:
- Wabtec Acquires Frauscher
- Wabtec 3Q25: ‘Continued Growth in Backlog, Sales, Margin and Earnings’
- Wabtec, Vale Partner to Test Ethanol Use in Locomotives
- MTA 2025–2029 Capital Plan Gets Greenlight
- NY Governor Signs FY26 State Budget Into Law
- Kawasaki to Supply 378 More ‘B’ Division Cars to NYCT
