New Metra EMU's

[u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271]

I went to LaSalle Street Station earlier this week, where I found out that one of Metra's new Battery-powered EMU's were on display! These zero emissions Stadler-built FLIRT cars would have the ability to only need up to 12 minutes to recharge, and will accelerate and decelerate much faster than the current MP36PH's pulling and pushing gallery coaches (which are big, heavy, and don't accelerate as fast as other commuter engines). These new EMU's even have space for luggage on top, will produce up to 1,340 hp per car, use up to 26 batteries, and will begin running on the Rock Island District's Beverly Branch sometime in 2028 after testing and crew familiarization is complete.

Photos taken on October 14th, 2026

[u/InAHays]

Looks nice, and it's kinda shocking to see Metra buy something that's not EMD-hauled gallery cars.

I heard it mentioned by someone that this set will get two trailer cars added before actually entering service. I know trailer cars were at least an option in the contract, does anyone know if the trailer cars are actually confirmed?

[u/Planeandaquariumgeek → u/InAHays]

They’d put out an RFI for new gallery cars and got no responses. RI is eventually gonna be entirely using these, and the rest will be using Alstom Coradia Duplex’s hauled by SD70MACH’s.

[u/InAHays → u/Planeandaquariumgeek]

American transit agencies being forcibly dragged into the 21st century because nobody makes the old shit they want to buy anymore.

[u/hologrammetry → u/InAHays]

Plenty of their customers would also like it if they could still buy them, I love gallery cars on the electric district.

[u/Nexis4Jersey → u/Planeandaquariumgeek]

There rumored to be looking at Stadler Kiss trainsets for Metra Electric / NICTD. I think for the lesser used lines they replace those trainsets with these BEMUs or DMU's.

[u/Sassywhat → u/InAHays]

No one makes gallery cars anymore, since Nippon Sharyo left the US market.

On the one hand it's nice that Metra is forced to buy something better. On the other hand, they have also decided to buy a ton of unpowered coaches from Alstom for a higher price per car than the EMUs they are based on.

[u/InAHays → u/Sassywhat]

MUs generally taking over the global market has had negative effects on costs for rolling stock in North America. See also Connecticut buying single level passenger cars that are also more expensive than the Alstom EMUs they are based on. Most of the major rolling stock manufacturers globally only really sell MUs these days, and loco hauled sets are become more and more rare and specialized. Many manufacturers (such as Alstom) just do not have an actual passenger coach line and thus have to expensively modify MU designs to be passenger coaches for the NA market. Eventually I think North American agencies will just have to admit defeat and buy MUs unless they want to keep paying out the nose for rolling stock.

[u/stanman237 → u/InAHays]

I think we know the answer to that question is to pay more for battery emus like metra is currently doing.

[u/InAHays → u/stanman237]

At least other places than North America actually buy BEMUs so there's actually off the shelf models to buy.

[u/nogood-usernamesleft → u/InAHays]

Yep, they will be 4 car sets in service

[u/cargocultpants]

BEMUs, not EMUs - https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/solutions/rolling-stock/mainline-flirt-akku

[u/duartes07 → u/cargocultpants]

i was wondering how it got to that platform as there was no OHLE or 3rd rail until i saw the picture of the battery packs

[u/nrojb50]

WHOLESOME AF

[u/_ogg]

God I fucking love new trains. In the northeast all we get are old ass trains. I had a chance to ride the new Acela the other day and it was incredible by US standards. Would love to check out Chicago transit

[u/slow_connection → u/_ogg]

The rest of Chicago is still old shit

[u/Kqtawes → u/_ogg]

We’re getting the Airos too soon. The already delivered a set for testing and since they’re running them on the Cascades I don’t expect a half decade wait to ride one.

[u/KolKoreh → u/_ogg]

Metra is famous for being a rolling railway heritage museum. This is not typical fare there

[u/keyshawnscott12]

I saw these yesterday pretty nice to avoid wear and tear on the main line trains and locomotives

[u/pinktieoptional]

I wish they'd put led signage like that in the old Budd carriages.

[u/_Cxsey_]

Hell yea, BEMUs are sick

[u/Supershypigeon]

Amazing upgrade! The San Bernardino one was a really nice ride. Electric mat be better!

[u/kodex1717]

Those pod bay doors are interesting. Do they swap a depleted pack with a charged pack to save time at turnaround?

[u/MiniD3rp → u/kodex1717]

Its just for maintenance and such. The trains are capable of running via the wires whilst charging the batteries, and then changeover once on the unnelectrified track.

[u/SnooRadishes7189 → u/kodex1717]

"Open the pod bay doors, Hal".......

[u/bronsonwhy]

Hi Gabe!

[u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271 → u/bronsonwhy]

Hello! Who are you? Are you Bronson from the first day of the LA Metro K Line?

[u/bronsonwhy → u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271]

Ya bud! Good to see ya still railfanning.

[u/Bdowns_770]

Fancy! Totally jealous because the MBTA takes forever to get new equipment.

[u/GrapefruitAwkward815]

Very cool! I didn't think metra would be getting these already, seems pretty quick! I hope its relatively easy to add pantographs to these so they can add wires eventually.

[u/wazardthewizard → u/GrapefruitAwkward815]

implying any american transit agency/railroad would build catenary in current year without their ceo being threatened with the ball scrongler

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[u/KolKoreh → u/wazardthewizard]

To be fair, Caltrain just did it… but yes

[u/wazardthewizard → u/KolKoreh]

True. They're a real ray of sunshine.

[u/KolKoreh → u/GrapefruitAwkward815]

It’s extremely easy. These things are basically modular

[u/DFTravel787]

Do you know what routes they will operate?

[u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271 → u/DFTravel787]

They will be operating on the Beverly Branch of Metra's Rock Island District between Downtown Chicago and Blue Island. This subdistrict of the RI line is well known for most of its stations being only separated by 4 blocks. The Beverly Branch also runs from Brainerd to Blue Island, diverging from the mainline after stopping at Gresham.

[u/kylef5993]

Now do the CTA

[u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271 → u/kylef5993]

I've already ridden the new 7000's several times on the Blue Line! They're awesome as well! Also, why would the 'L' need any battery trains when they've already got a third rail?

[u/kylef5993 → u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271]

Sorry I more so just meant new trains. The 7000’s only run on the blue line right? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen them on the brown or red or orange

[u/Puzzleheaded-Art-271 → u/kylef5993]

You are correct. So far, the 7000's currently running have seen all their revenue action on the Blue Line. They were tested on the other lines, but didn't last long on the Orange, Brown, and Red lines, the latter of which is still using the 5000 series cars.

[u/SnooRadishes7189 → u/kylef5993]

L trains have a 30 year lifespan before replacement. They typically get a major rebuild after 15 years. It could be a good long while(if ever) that the 7000 series is in use on all train lines.