Long Island Rail Road President Phillip Eng announced that the railroad would be the possibly the first in North America to introduce battery-powered commuter trains.
Eng said this addition of battery-powered trains on Long Island would reduce carbon emissions. He said the batteries could also help the MTA avoid a $17 billion upgrade to electrify the commuter railroad tracks over the next few decades.
“And I see this as a total gamechanger for how we’re able to increase flexibility in operating this railroad, and deliver improved services sooner rather than later,” Eng said.
The MTA partnered with the French transit manufacturer Alstom after the company saw success with improving rail transportation in Europe.
On Long Island, the first studies of two battery trains will be on the Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson lines over the next eight months and cost around $860,000.
Eng is confident that if the test goes well, there could see more of these trains in service within a year.