MBTA to lease or buy up to 9 UTA MPXpress's

[ns3010]

-010 is still testing North and is expected to enter service (not sure if it will be North or South) on Thursday, the third.

-011 was delivered to P&W today

[ns3010]

-010 has completed South Side testing, and has made it to BET. It was put on a 5 car set and will do some testing on the North Side, specifically involving checking clearances.

-011 has last reported in Rochester, NY. It could be at Providence & Worcester as early as the weekend.

[ns3010]

From what I've heard,

- 010 was out testing on the South Side today, and

- 011 has been released from MPI. I don't know exactly where it is now, only that it was last seen in Boise.

[beaulieu]

Northstar Commuter in Minnesota bought UTAX 12.

[ns3010]

UTA has (had) 21 units, 1-21

MBTA bought two units, UTAX 13 and 14. They are now MBTX 010 and 011.

010 was released from MPI just before Christmas, and reached Providence & Worcester Railroad for testing a few weeks ago. On Saturday, it was picked up by a MBCR crew. It was originally supposed to go to BET, but they decided to leave it on the South Side, last I heard. It is believed that it will do some cab signal testing on the South Side before being sent to BET and doing some more testing on the North Side.

011 is expected to arrive sometime in February.

While nothing has been said about the lease agreement, it is believed to be dead.

[OR&L_Collegekid]

Alright, So I apologize if this topic has already been discussed, I'm new here. I just read that MBTA has plans to lease to or buy up to 9 of UTA's MP36PH-3C. I'm no mathematician but last I remember UTA only has 11 locomotives, only purchased a few years ago. Is UTA planning on using only 2 locomotives in their operations? or acquiring new power? I'm not even aware of any current, domestic, alternatives to the MPXpress for regional Diesel Electric type commuter power.