EMD F125

The Los Angeles commuter rail agency Metrolink was the launch customer for the EMD F125, with an order for 40.^[3] The cost of the base order of 10 units with an option of additional 10 was estimated at $150 million, with delivery commencing in 2016.^[4][5] The base order was signed on May 31, 2013, for 10 locomotives with an option for additional 10, which has since been exercised.^[6][7] Additional orders were exercised as funding became available. They replaced the EMD F59PH and F59PHI.

The first locomotive began testing in the first quarter of 2016 and was shown to the public on July 18, 2016, at Los Angeles Union Station during a special event,^[8][9] and had its first mainline run on June 10, 2017.

The bulk of the order was expected to be delivered by April 2017, but major problems with the locomotives had prevented their full acceptance by Metrolink.^[10][11] In November 2018, Metrolink announced that only five locomotives had been accepted, and the project was two years behind schedule.^[12] As of 2022, all F125 locomotives had been delivered to Metrolink and placed in service.^{[citation needed]}

The F125 competes with other Tier 4 compliant locomotives, such as the Siemens Charger series and the MPI MPXpress MP54AC. Both the F125 and MP54AC have struggled to find customers, unlike the Charger series, which has sold more than 350 units including large orders from Amtrak and Via Rail.

References