Metra
STV on Feb. 18 reported being selected to provide quality assurance, engineering, and administrative services for Metra commuter railroad’s $154 million base order for eight two-car battery-electric trainsets.
Metra awarded the trainset contract to Stadler in 2024. The base order also includes 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.
The trainsets will offer low-level boarding and will be equipped with lifts to make them ADA-compliant. Each two-car set will seat 112 people, and each additional trailer car will provide seating for about 46 people. They will have open gangways so riders can move freely from car to car, and will include features such as passenger information signs, bike and luggage racks, and USB outlets. Half the trailer cars, if purchased, would include ADA-accessible bathrooms. The first trainsets are expected to be delivered in 2027-2028.
“A fully charged trainset is expected to have a range of 45 to 65 miles,” Metra noted in its award announcement last year. “Charging time will vary, but going from a 20% charge to 80%, enough for the trainset to operate, is expected to take about 20 to 30 minutes. The exact charging infrastructure and its cost is yet to be determined.”
“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,” STV Senior Engineer and Project Manager Austin Longshore said on Feb. 18. “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 provided vehicle procurement and engineering services for rail and transit projects throughout North America, including programs supporting dual-powered (electric and diesel) locomotives for New Jersey Transit and MTA Metro-North Railroad in New York.
LACMTA
LCMTA on Feb. 18 expanded its Board-approved TAP-to-Exit program to Union Station (B/D Lines) in an aim to prevent unauthorized transit system use and maintain a safe environment for everyone. Turnstiles at the historic transportation station are now latched at both the entrances and exits to the rail lines, so riders will need to tap their TAP fare card or scan their valid Metrolink commuter rail fare to enter and exit the station.
“Controlling access to the system helps to ensure that people are using the system for their transportation needs and is just one of the ways that Metro [LACMTA] is working to improve safety,” the transit agency reported. “Since 2024, Metro has been deploying more security officers and contracted law enforcement partners to increase the visibility of uniformed law enforcement officers on the system, as well as upgrading camera technology and lighting at the stations.”
From Feb. 18-25, LACMTA employees will be on-site to assist riders with loading their fares and help enroll income-qualified riders. After this “education period,” the transit agency said, security and law enforcement officers will begin issuing citations for those who do not have valid fares.
The TAP-to-Exit program launched May 28, 2024, at the North Hollywood B Line Station, followed by the Downtown Santa Monica E Line Station in September. It has received positive feedback from riders, according to LACMTA. “The North Hollywood station pilot transformed behavior along the 14 B-Line stations with reported crime and other issues (fights, drug use and graffiti) having dropped by more than 40% on the Transit Watch app,” it reported. “In a survey of North Hollywood riders, 90% stated that this pilot made the station feel cleaner and 86% stated that this pilot made them feel safer. Following the expansion to Downtown Santa Monica, Transit Watch incidents dropped 55% on the E Line when TAP-to Exit was paired with fare enforcement.”
Data from LACMTA’s three contracted law enforcement partners revealed that up to 94% of individuals arrested on the system for violent crime do not possess valid fare or even a TAP card, which is required to ride on LACMTA trains and buses, according to the transit agency.
Since TAP-to-Exit was implemented, it said, the program has automatically corrected nearly 120,000 unpaid passenger exits, translating to more than $130,000 in fares recuperated alone.
The transit agency plans to expand the program to other end-of-line stations in the future.
The TAP-to-Exit program is also implemented by Bay Area Rapid Transit in California; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington, D.C.; and Metropolitan-Atlanta Regional Transit Authority in Atlanta, Ga.
VIA Rail
Optable on Feb. 18 reported the results of a new partnership with VIA Rail, Touché! and The Globe and Mail newspaper’s advertising arm Globe Media Group. Using Optable’s “clean room” technology online rather than cookies, the collaboration effectively matched ad-exposed Globe readers to VIA Rail ticket purchasers, resulting in a proven 20% increase in ticket sales, according to Optable.
“The result is a clear, privacy-safe measurement of the campaign’s contribution to ticket sales, demonstrating the potential for cookie-independent measurement solutions,” Optable noted.
“As an industry, we have a responsibility to prioritize consumer privacy while delivering results that matter,” said Kabil Rahaman, Head of Commercial Data at The Globe and Mail. “This project with Optable and VIA Rail shows how we can innovate without cutting corners on accountability. Metrics matter, but so do our readers and the trust we build with our clients. This is the best of both worlds—great results using true deterministic data sets without compromising on what really counts.”
“Knowing how our ads actually drive real-world results, like ticket sales, is huge,” commented Mia Bergman, Brand and Go-to-market Manager at VIA Rail. “What really sets this partnership apart is how it balances protecting customer privacy with delivering clear, actionable insights.”
“This collaboration with VIA Rail and Globe Media Group shows the direction our industry needs to take,” Optable Chief Strategy Officer Vlad Stesin said. “Cookie-based measurement is outdated, and we’re proving there’s a better way—one that respects user privacy while delivering reliable, actionable results.”
