Amtrak is contracting with California-based Siemens Mobility Inc. to manufacture a new fleet of up to 83 multi-powered modern trains that will be leveraged for state and northeast services.
“These new trains will reshape the future of rail travel by replacing our aging 40-to-50-year old fleet with state-of-the-art, American-made equipment,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said in a statement. “This investment is essential to preserving and growing our Northeast Regional and state-supported services and will allow our customers to travel comfortably and safely, while deeply reducing criteria pollutants.”
The new equipment will operate on the Northeast Corridor, long distance Palmetto and various state-supported routes that will replace Amtrak-owned Amfleet, Metroliner, and state-owned equipment on certain routes throughout the country.
The $7.3 billion investment includes the purchase of equipment and a long-term parts supply and service agreement, facility modifications and upgrades, and other program expenses.
A long-term service agreement for technical support, spare parts, and material supply will accompany the contract to manufacture the trains. The new trains include remote monitoring and fully integrated digital diagnostics. Amtrak says these advanced features will enable the passenger rail service to test and develop new technology and introduce new maintenance approaches to drive efficiency, increase availability and reduce long term costs.
“If we invest in passenger rail, our nation can have a future with world-class transportation infrastructure that can spark economic growth, curb pollution, and connect Americans across the country to opportunity,” Senator Tom Carper of Delaware said in a statement. “Today’s announcement is a step towards that future—the first of many to come as we work to support Amtrak and all the good it can do for the American people.”
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SOURCE: Amtrak
