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Metra seeks proposals for new coach fleet
Metra’s argument last year was refurbishing rail cars is cheaper than buying new, and have been refurbishing the Amerirail cars, NOW they want new cars.
The mid-life refurbishing existing commuter cars IS cheaper than purchasing new ones, but that only works when you have enough 10-to-15 year old cars to refurbish. Metra is has cars in regular revenue service that are 50-to-60 years old that should have been retired decades ago. The need for new cars at Metra is undeniable; they need to retire their oldest cars and expand their fleet in order to accommodate the ever increasing demand for service.
I think Britt is confusing Metra with the CTA. Metra does not have any Amerail cars. Chicago Transit Authority does, and is the agency which has been talking about refurbishing cars. However, it is also buying new to replace the cars that are twice as old (or more) as the Amerails.