Stadler US will use ABB traction converters and batteries for the new trainsets it is building for Metra commuter rail in Chicago and for future Valley Rail passenger service between Merced and Sacramento, Calif., ABB reported March 18.
Metra in 2024 awarded a contract to Stadler US for zero-emission, battery-electric (BE) single-level trainsets. The contract included a $154 million base order for eight two-car BE trainsets, including engineering, training, and spare parts, with options costing up to an additional $181.4 million for eight more trainsets and up to 32 trailer cars, which could be added to the two-car trainsets to create three- or four-car trainsets. STV was recently selected to provide quality assurance, engineering, and administrative services for the base order. The first trainsets are expected to be delivered in 2027-2028.
According to ABB, each of the base order trainsets will be equipped with Pro 8C batteries and CC750 DC traction converters. ABB said its traction converters are “designed for high efficiency and reliability, working to optimize the performance of the trainsets, while the battery system will further enable Metra to reduce their CO2 emissions.”
Caltrans has signed contracts with Stadler US for a total of 10 zero-emission HFC (hydrogen fuel cell) FLIRT H2 trainsets. In 2023, it awarded a $80 million base contract for four trainsets, with an option 25 more, and in 2024, exercised an option for six additional trainsets, valued at $127 million. The first four-car trainsets are expected to enter revenue service in 2027. They are to run between Merced and Sacramento on the future Valley Rail service, an expansion of the existing Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) regional/commuter rail and Amtrak San Joaquins services that will eventually connect with the first section of California High-Speed Rail, which will stretch 171 miles between Merced and Bakersfield.
ABB said it will supply Pro 8C traction batteries, CC750 DC traction converters, and CC400 DC traction converters for each of the 10 trainsets now on order for Caltrans. “The traction converter for fuel cell integration is essential in hydrogen-powered trains, enabling efficient propulsion that reduces power usage and emissions,” the supplier noted.
Final assembly and testing of all ABB components will be conducted at its Traction factory in Mechanicsville, Va., which employs nearly 100 skilled production workers.
“Our collaboration with Stadler is a testament to our commitment to sustainable transportation solutions,” said Edgar Keller, President of the ABB Traction division. “By leveraging our advanced technology and local manufacturing capabilities, we are helping drive the transition to cleaner rail transport.”
“By integrating ABB’s traction batteries and converters into our trainsets, we are not only enhancing the efficiency and reliability of our fleets but also contributing to a state-of-the-art transit future,” noted Martin Ritter, CEO of Division North America for Stadler and one of Railway Age’s 25 under 40 Award honorees for 2024. “This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that will benefit communities across the country.”
Among the other Stadler projects in the U.S.: 23 KISS EMUs are operating at Caltrain in California; an HFC-powered FLIRT H2 train is currently in test on Metrolink’s Arrow line between San Bernardino and Redlands, Calif., where it will run alongside existing FLIRT DMUs; and eight DMUs are being tested for Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Silver Line commuter rail service. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in 2019 awarded Stadler a contract to supply 127 two-car rapid transit trainsets with options for up to 50 additional sets; the first set was unveiled earlier this year. Last year, Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners selected Stadler and Siemens Mobility to provide railcars and signaling technology, respectively, for a rail proposal to ease congestion on the I-405 (Sepulveda) corridor between Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley and Westside.
