First Look: Metra’s SD70MACH
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
This remanufactured locomotive from Progress Rail is the first of 15 to be delivered to Metra for operation in Chicago commuter rail service. (Photograph Courtesy of Metra, via LinkedIn)
The latest addition to Metra’s locomotive fleet, the SD70MACH, was unveiled Oct. 11 on the commuter rail agency’s social media accounts.
The remanufactured unit from Progress Rail is the first of Metra’s 500 series. The Board in 2019 approved a $70.9 million contract for 15 remanufactured and repurposed diesel-electric locomotives to modernize the Chicago agency’s aging fleet. The contract included options for up to 27 additional units. The program involves rebuilding six-axle AC-traction Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) SD70MAC freight locomotives, 1,109 of which were built by EMD between 1993 and 2004. The remanufactured units are designated SD70MACH.
The first SD70MACH was painted in heritage Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) colors to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of its formation, according to Metra. Additional units are slated to be delivered approximately one per month starting in November.
