BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will spend about $253 million to overhaul 40 commuter-rail diesel locomotives following approval of the expense Thursday, Dec. 18, by the agency’s board.
The overhaul will cover HSP46 locomotives built by Motive Power Inc. of Boise, Idaho, in three orders placed between 2010 and 2013. The first of those locomotives entered service in 2014. MPI subsequently was purchased by Wabtec, which will receive $222.7 million to perform the overhauls. Wabtec was selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process. The remainder of the overhaul figure will cover in-house work and other expense.
MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan told the Boston Globe the midlife overhaul “is 100% expected.”
The project timeline calls for a pilot locomotive to be delivered in December 2028, with the first production unit in the process due by February 2029 and completion of the project by March 2032. A presentation to the board says the work will include modifications to address identified deficiencies with the units, replace obsolete components, and integrate modernized technologies, ensuring parts and technology availability to support at least 15 years of service life.
The MBTA is the only operator of the HSP46, a 4,600-hp, B-B, AC locomotive powered by GE GEVO 12-cylinder prime movers.
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This is all well & good, but let me beat Charles to the punch–where is the plan to convert the corridor runs (south to Rhode Island) to electric operation? Just need a bit of cat strung over the route (mainly at the stations) and a deal to purchase electric power from Amtrak.
The presentation given to the board implies that the overhaul is to buy time to allow for electric operation and calls for a 15 year service life after overhaul. So, 15 years will become 30 years, and that should only be about five years short of the time needed to string a little catenary. Maybe ten years short if you include negotiating with Amtrak.