Massachusetts transit agency buys $83 million in hybrid buses as electric plans run years behind. Leigh Cook Thu, October 29, 2026 at 2:30 PM PDT With only about 10% of its bus fleet fully electric, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has approved an $83 million order for 65 new hybrid buses, a move that departs from the agency's own roadmap. Here's what to know. The order, awarded to New Flyer Industries, covers 65 diesel-electric hybrid buses that the MBTA expects to receive in 2028. William Wolfgang, the T's director of vehicle engineering, told board members Oct. 22 that they are meant to replace older buses that have been on Massachusetts roads since at least 2008, according to The Boston Globe. Wolfgang said the T now operates about 1,000 buses, including more than 700 hybrids, 175 compressed-natural-gas vehicles, and just 125 zero-emission electric buses. Those numbers show how far the agency remains from the targets it set in 2022. Because hybrids aren't counted as fully electric vehicles, the newly approved buses will not help the MBTA reach its 2028 goal of having nearly 30% of the fleet fully electric. The agency has said hybrids still cut pollution and improve air quality without the added expense of building out electric chargers. Phil Eng, the MBTA's general manager and interim secretary of transportation, said the purchase reflects what's realistically possible now. He also said a $78 million Federal Transit Administration grant will cover most of the bus order. More background. The agency had laid out a far more aggressive timeline. In 2022, the MBTA said it would buy only electric buses after 2030, retire buses that run on non-renewable energy sources, and modernize all nine bus facilities with high-capacity charging infrastructure by the end of 2024, the Globe reported. Those deadlines have slipped. The MBTA has cited supply-chain problems and rising costs as reasons garage rebuilds and retrofits needed for large-scale electric bus charging have moved more slowly, though updated bus garages in North Cambridge and Quincy are now under construction. The board also approved a separate $310 million purchase of 10 diesel locomotives and 10 battery-electric commuter rail locomotives. Those trains will replace some of the system's oldest locomotives, which have been running for more than 50 years. Wolfgang said the battery-electric locomotives will be quieter and emit 80% less than the current trains. They are expected to operate on the Providence line, which already has overhead power through Amtrak service. Chris Friend, interim executive director of transportation advocacy group TransitMatters, also criticized the T for not sharing information about Providence line service upgrades tied to the procurement of new electric trains. What's being done? The MBTA is still adding some all-electric equipment, even as it continues relying on hybrids and mixed fleets in the meantime. The agency purchased 40 all-electric buses from New Flyer Industries, the same manufacturer building the newly approved hybrid buses. That contract also gives the MBTA the option to buy another 235 buses if additional funding becomes available. Eng said the agency is also developing a systemwide decarbonization plan while trying to keep current service reliable. On the rail side, the new battery-electric locomotives are part of the MBTA's effort to replace older, more polluting equipment before the agency electrifies the entire network. Not everyone is convinced by that strategy. "Why are you procuring and buying diesel trains locomotives at this point, and not leasing them, when the future is in the electrification of the transportation and the rail system?" Mela Bush-Miles, coordinator of transit equity at Action for Equity, asked the MBTA about its continued purchase of polluting vehicles, according to the Globe. Eng described the agency's challenge this way: "How do we keep today's system running safe and reliable, as we're building the future modernized, decarbonized T? It's like riding the bicycle while you're changing the tire at the same time." These stories look at the fleet, budget, and service decisions shaping the MBTA's push toward cleaner transit. - Boston's slowest MBTA buses are getting slower, even as bus bunching finally starts to ease. - In Massachusetts, MBTA rail costs hit $5.2 billion, with the next contract topping $10 billion. Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.

MBTA board approves purchase of new Siemens locomotives. Agency to receive 10 diesels, 10 battery-electric hybrids Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Sign-up for email today! BOSTON - The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority board of directors on Thursday unanimously approved the purchase of 20 Siemens Charger locomotives - 10 diesel-electric units and 10 dual-mode battery-catenary electric hybrids - for $310.4 million. William Wolfgang, the MBTA's senior director of vehicle engineering, told the board the agency "has, obviously, an immediate need for locomotives." Delivery of the diesels would begin in mid-2029 and continue through the following year, with the battery-electrics arriving in 2030 and 2031. The new locomotives will replace the oldest locomotives in the MBTA fleet, GP40s built more than 50 years ago and F40s that are 33 to 39 years old. A presentation to the board said that 13 of the GP40s have exceeded their useful life, while the F40s will reach the end of their life between 2029 and 2035. Wolfgang told the board the Chargers are a "service-proven" product, with 440 locomotives built or in production. Siemens has "learned a lot of lessons from it," he said, "and they've really combined all the best features and all the best products from other vendors into it." The diesels will meet EPA Tier 4 standards and will reduce emissions by about 80% compared with current units, Wolfgang said. He also said the new locomotives would bring some technical challenges for operation with existing rolling stock, most notably using existing cab cars to control the battery-electric units. "We're going to have to work with railroad operations, engineering, and the Brotherhood of [Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen] to try and determine the best way to handle that," he said. "That will be an upcoming change order once we get into the design review process." A combination of state and federal funding will pay for the order, including a recent $200 million transfer from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation [see "Massachusetts DOT approves funding ...," Trains.com, Sept. 24, 2026]. The contract includes an option for additional locomotives, although details were not discussed during the meeting. The purchase plan was criticized by two advocacy groups. Mela Bush, transit equity and environmental justice coordinator for the Action for Equity coalition, questioned during the meeting's public-comment period why the MBTA is buying diesels rather than leasing them "when the future is the electrification of the transportation and the rail system." And State House News Service reports that the group TransitMatters said earlier this year that the acquisition "makes costly decisions that prioritize legacy constraints over the established 2019 Rail Vision" plan, which calls for full electrification of the MBTA commuter rail network.

MBTA releases new round of collectible CharlieCards celebrating Boston. The MBTA shared it has released five new special edition collectible CharlieCards featuring iconic Boston landmarks including: the Massachusetts State Capital building, Bunker Hill Monument, the Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, the Old State House, and TD Garden. Book Local Tours The MBTA's Customer Experience team in partnership with the MBTA Fare Revenue Department previously released three commemorative cards in summer 2026. "Riding the T is one of those things that makes Boston, Boston," said Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. "I say that myself as someone who is proud to call Boston home. The T is one of the best ways to travel and see all that Massachusetts has to offer, and today we're excited to reveal a new set of limited edition CharlieCards, which feature iconic Boston landmarks that remind so many people of the amazing city we live in and its rich history." The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) opened America's first subway tunnel in 1897, pioneering public transportation in the United States. Today, the MBTA is one of the largest public transit systems in the country, operating an extensive network of subway, bus, Commuter Rail, ferry, and paratransit services across 176 cities and towns. The MBTA is undergoing a transformative period, focusing on cultivating a culture of safety and excellence, modernizing infrastructure, and improving reliability and accessibility. Current priorities include accelerating critical infrastructure repairs, expanding accessibility, and reducing emissions. The MBTA is committed to providing dependable, frequent, and accessible service that riders can rely on while supporting the region's economic vitality. Through initiatives like the unprecedented Track Improvement Program, the Better Bus Program, and the Rail Modernization Plan, the MBTA aims to connect communities and improve riders' daily experiences and trips. For questions or assistance, riders are encouraged to contact the MBTA Customer Center at 617-222-3200. Members of the press are encouraged to contact [email protected]. For the latest updates on MBTA services, projects, and initiatives, visit MBTA.com or follow @MBTA on social media.