en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Metra (Metropolitan Commuter Railroad) announced a $206 million order for 42 remanufactured former freight locomotives from Progress Rail Locomotives as part of its fleet renewal program. On June 24, 2025, Metra unveiled a custom-painted locomotive to the public in Chicago, designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (Semiquincentennial), also serving as a symbol of this fleet upgrade. Funding comes from state and federal government allocations.
These locomotives will replace older power units and meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 3 emissions certification, which Metra officials confirm will be the cleanest-operating locomotives in its fleet. The custom paint design was completed by Metra Senior Graphic Designer Falecia Woods in collaboration with the operations team, with painting carried out by Progress Rail. The full delivery schedule for the remaining locomotives has not yet been announced.
This procurement takes place against the backdrop of a global wave of investment in railway assets. In comparison, Canyon Resources subsidiary Camalco Cameroon S.A. received locomotives in June 2026 for Cameroon's Minim Martap bauxite project as part of its $160 million Phase II expansion, aiming to increase rail transport capacity to approximately 105,000 tons per month by early September 2027. Metra's order focuses on passenger service and environmental compliance within a mature network, while the Cameroon delivery supports a new mining logistics corridor, reflecting investment directions in rolling stock for developed and emerging economies, respectively. PwC noted in its mid-2025 outlook that activity in high-end, technology-driven railway asset transactions is increasing, and Metra's choice of remanufactured Tier 3-certified locomotives aligns with this trend. In Africa, the total railway network reached 78,542 kilometers in 2026, but investment remains concentrated on mineral export corridors; the U.S., meanwhile, emphasizes fleet sustainability. In publicly available materials from 2025, no other commuter locomotive procurement projects fully comparable in price and emissions level to this order were identified.
