Metra‘s board announced yesterday it approved a $70.9 million contract to purchase 15 remanufactured locomotives.

The contract with Progress Rail calls for reconfiguring the EMD SD70MAC freight locomotives for passenger use, and refurbish or upgrade all components to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emissions standard.

For example, the like-new locomotives will upgrade from DC to AC traction motors to deliver more reliable power from the diesel engine to the wheels. These are far more durable components, Metra officials said in a press release.

Currently, Metra replaces 160 DC traction motors annually, while the AC traction motor on Metra’s electric cars has not required replacement in 12 years. There will also be a 34 percent increase in horsepower and an upgrade to microprocessor-controlled brake systems. 

Once remanufactured, the locomotive will be designated as SD70MACH. The remanufactured locomotives have a similar design to Metra’s F59 locomotives, which will enable Metra to use the same parts inventory, railroad officials said. 

“Our goals with this locomotive purchase are to increase reliability and improve the state of good repair on our system,” said Metra Chief Executive Officer Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “These like-new locomotives will be replacing some of the oldest locomotives in our fleet, and we would expect to see a significant increase in reliability as these newer locomotives are introduced.”

In addition to the remanufactured locomotives, Metra also introduced 24 used Amtrak locomotives this year. With those two initiatives underway, the percentage of poor-condition locomotives in Metra’s fleet will be reduced from 70 percent to 14 percent by 2023.