Amtrak plans to replace dozens of aging trains at a cost of $7.3B

[left-of-center2012]

Amtrak plans to spend $7.3 billion to replace 83 passenger trains, some nearly a half-century old, though much of the funding must still be approved by Congress. Amtrak said Wednesday that under the contract with German manufacturer Siemens AG, some of the trains will be hybrids, able to operate on diesel fuel and electricity where wires are available. The new trains will replace Amfleet, Metroliner and state-owned equipment starting in 2024.

The new engines and passenger cars will be built at a U.S. factory in Sacramento, California. The new trains will have more comfortable seating, better ventilation systems, individual power outlets and USB ports, onboard WiFi, and panoramic windows. Amtrak CEO William Flynn says they’ll pollute far less than the older trains when operating in diesel mode. The trains will go to lines in New York, New England, California, the Northwest, Virginia and elsewhere. The railroad has an option to buy 130 additional trains from Siemens.

Siemens says the first delivery will be in 2024 to the Cascades line in the northwest, with the rest continuing through 2030. Manufacturing will start in 2023. The trains will have an engine and roughly six to eight cars. The contract will include equipment and a long-term parts supply and service agreement, the statement says.

Amtrak says money will come from about $200 million already approved by Congress, as well as future funding that has to be approved. “We expect that we will have annual funding for our portion of the train sets,” he said. “If there should be a moment in time when that money isn’t specifically available, we have the ability to finance the units as well,” Flynn said. That money would be repaid by states with trains, and passenger fares, he said. President Joe Biden regularly rode Amtrak between Washington and his home in Wilmington, Delaware, during his 36 years as a senator and has proposed a big increase in federal money for the rail service.

https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/07/amtrak-plans-to-replace-dozens-of-aging-trains-at-a-cost-of-73b.html

[-misanthroptimist]

1. I finally traveled by train a few years ago.

I loved it. Any long distance trips I take in the future in the US will be by Amtrak. I'll never fly again.

[Budi]

5. I'd love to ride the train across the Colorado Rockies

I hear it is an adventure!

Or the ride that goes across Canada.
Wouldn't that be a cool trip as well!

[erronis]

2. In the end 90%+ of traffic will be running on rails.

Whether the rails are the iron tracks crossing the nation or embedded wires guiding personal carrier vehicles.

The current smart-vehicle system which requires complex logic that can fail spectacularly will be replaced by signals that guide the flow of smaller vehicles.

[Wicked Blue]

3. I hope this includes the wretched Capitol Limited route

I've ridden on it several times between Rockville MD and Pittsburgh. The line continues to Chicago. The trains are very difficult to board because of the narrow high doors. The bathrooms are likewise hard to access unless you are young and agile.

The train takes more than 7 hours from Rockville to Pittsburgh, whereas car and Greyhound bus can make the trip in about 4 hours. Many places along the rail line require speeds of about 30 mph, probably because the track may be in poor condition.

[Budi]

4. 👍 "The new engines and passenger cars will be built at a U.S. factory in Sacramento, CA"....

The new engines and passenger cars will be built at a U.S. factory in Sacramento, California.

Bring it on home Joe!!!
"Made in America"

"The new trains will have more comfortable seating, better ventilation systems, individual power outlets and USB ports, onboard WiFi, and panoramic windows. Amtrak CEO William Flynn says they’ll pollute far less than the older trains when operating in diesel mode.

The trains will go to lines in New York, New England, California, the Northwest, Virginia and elsewhere. The railroad has an option to buy 130 additional trains from Siemens."

[crickets]

6. Improved infrastructure, reduced pollution, and...

oh, look - jobs! 💙

[CoopersDad]

7. I was provided an informal tour of that Sacramento plant.

Just a few years ago.
It's stupendous walking around locomotives and streetcars under construction. Everything from a big Florida Brightline locomotive to smaller SF Muni cars.
Siemens. Big plant, great jobs, great product!