Riders were welcomed by Metra and local officials at LaSalle Street Station in Chicago on Wednesday to get a first look at the agency’s new battery-powered trainsets — which will be the first to operate in North America.

Metra will take delivery of eight four-car trainsets, with the first expected to enter service in 2028. They will first run approximately 16 miles between LaSalle St. and Blue Island on the Beverly Branch of the Rock Island Line.

Built by Stadler U.S. in Salt Lake City, the trainsets rely on onboard lithium-ion batteries and Stadler’s ‘FLIRT’ (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train) system.

The trainsets can be recharged through existing 480V yard and terminal cabling, dedicated charging infrastructure, and energy captured with regenerative braking. Metra says the new trainsets mark “a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable, zero-emission passenger rail transportation in North America.”

Single-level cars on these sets will feature low-level boarding and lifts for ADA compliance. Each four-car set will seat 208 people and include open gangways so riders can move freely between cars. Amenities will include passenger information signs, bike racks, luggage racks, and USB outlets, and each set will have two ADA-accessible bathrooms.

— Nick Stewart