Amtrak will spend $7.3 billion to modernize its U.S. passenger railway service. Siemens’Siemens’ California unit has been contracted to supply Amtrak with a new generation of more comfortable, less polluting trains that will help it upgrade its fleet.
Siemens Mobility received a $3.4B contract to build up to 72 train sets at its Sacramento, California rail factory. The agreement is valid through 2030, and the first units will enter service in 2024. They will be able to use multiple power sources. Some routes will only have electricity via overhead lines, while others will require diesel or a hybrid battery system that uses lithium-titanate. Amtrak might purchase additional trains as part of the first phase. It also has the option of purchasing up to 130 more to use on its expanded network.
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said, “These new trains will transform the future of rail travel” by replacing our aging fleet of 40- to-50-year-old equipment with American-made, state-of-the-art equipment. “This investment will enable our customers to travel comfortably, safer, and with less carbon emissions while protecting and growing our Northeast Regional and state-supported services.”
The purchase agreement will be in place before Congress approves a massive federal infrastructure bill. Former Amtrak passenger and fan Joe Biden seeks to overhaul Amtrak’sAmtrak’s leading passenger rail service and reduce transportation emissions. The compromise bipartisan infrastructure spending plan presented last month includes $66 billion in new funding for freight and passenger rail improvements.
Amtrak today announced that $7.3 billion of investment would be made in Siemens trains and long-term supplies and service, facility modification, and other upgrades. Amtrak said that the new trains would run on electrified sections of Amtrak’sAmtrak’s Northeast Corridor and routes in North Carolina, New England, New York City, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Cahill explained that the trains would be based on the Siemens Venture series. Brightline, an American private passenger rail operator, has been using these trains in South Florida for several years. The rolling stock plant at the German industrial giant in Sacramento supplies trains for services throughout California, Illinois, and Canada. These trains will have more space and offer better passenger experiences, thanks to features such as individual power outlets, USB ports, and improved lighting.
Cahill stated, “These will offer more comfort than Amtrak’sAmtrak’s current trains.” “The new trains have Air Suspension, which means there will be larger seats and aisles, better access, greater accessibility, and larger trains inside. We went to great lengths to maximize interior space while minimizing exteriors.
Amtrak stated that Siemens trains in California would conform to the Federal Railroad Administration Buy America Standards. In its thirtieth year of operation, the Sacramento facility employs more than 2,100 people and receives much of its power from a 2.1 Megawatt solar power plant.
