Metra is preparing to introduce a battery-powered electric train on the Rock Island District’s Beverly Branch in 2028, marking a significant shift in its service and technology approach. The new train, developed by Stadler and known as the FLIRT (Fast Light Innovative Regional Train), represents the first deployment of battery-electric trains in U.S. commuter rail and is intended to offer faster acceleration and braking compared to Metra’s existing fleet.

The agency revealed the train to the public on Thursday at Chicago’s LaSalle Street station, where riders and rail enthusiasts had the opportunity to tour the sleek, low-floor vehicle. Unlike Metra’s traditional equipment, the FLIRT has a modern design with streamlined cabs on both ends, no separate locomotive, and an interior equipped with accessibility features including bicycle and wheelchair spaces, charging ports, and digital next-stop displays.

Metra plans to initially deploy trains with a four-car configuration plus a central car housing lithium-ion batteries. The agency has ordered eight trainsets, with an option to purchase an additional eight. Understanding the trains’ real-world operating range is a key focus, explained Metra spokesman Michael Gillis. Charging will be accomplished either by connecting to an electric cable for a two and a half-hour charge or, after infrastructure upgrades, via an overhead pantograph system at terminals, reducing charge time to approximately 12 minutes. Metra intends to install these charging stations at LaSalle Street and Blue Island.

The new trains will debut on the Beverly Branch, a shorter segment of the Rock Island District with closely spaced stops, which Gillis described as an ideal testing ground. This pilot ties into a broader initiative to transition the Rock Island District toward more frequent, regional rail-style service, aiming for trains every 30 minutes on some sections extending to Joliet. The FLIRT has a seating capacity of 208, smaller than traditional rush-hour Metra trains that can carry over 1,200 passengers, making it potentially suited for off-peak or specialized runs.

This electric train project, costing $234 million and primarily funded by a federal grant, arrives amid a period of transformation for Metra. The agency is shifting from its traditional weekday commuter focus to a more comprehensive regional rail model with increased weekend service. Metra also plans to introduce new bi-level coaches starting in 2027 and is considering battery-powered locomotives to replace diesel engines for older cars.

While many riders expressed excitement about the new train’s modern features, some rail enthusiasts showed mixed reactions. Nicholas DeRicco, a model train collector and Metra regular, noted the train felt unlike Metra’s usual equipment. Others, like fellow railfan Darren Carlevato, saw the innovation as a positive modernization step.

Testing of the battery trains will continue at Stadler’s facility in Salt Lake City and a federal testing center in Colorado before Metra incorporates them into revenue service. The agency sees this move as a significant step toward adopting emerging technologies and reshaping its rail system for the future.