Amtrak high-speed trains modernize US rail transportation

Amtrak high-speed trains modernize US rail transportation

Amtrak has earmarked $466 million to buy electric trains from German firm Siemens as part of a modernization plan to replace its aging locomotives.

Siemens will build 70 Cities Sprinter ACS-64 electric trains that will offer more speed and reliability to passengers travelling the Northeast Corridor of the United States.

Trains that have been in service for 20 to 30 years will be retired and replaced with the brand-new electric trains which will start servicing routes in 2013.

The electric trains would reach up to 125 mph or 201 kph from Washington, D.C. to Boston, and up to 110 mph or 177 kph from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The purchase by Amtrak was hailed by the Federal Railroad Administration as it tries to modernize America’s aging transportation infrastructure as part of a new program by the Obama administration.

Some $80 million worth of grants for high-speed rail projects this year were given to many states.

Florida earlier announced that it would build a high-speed rail corridor between Tampa and Orlando and later Miami, using Siemens Velaro ICE trains.

Siemens is looking to sign similar train purchase deals to take advantage of the boost in federal funding for U.S. electric locomotives.

The ACS-64 trains will have regenerative braking systems, crash energy management, anti-climbing features, and couplers that minimize the chance of derailment during collisions. Amtrak said the new trains would lessen maintenance costs and improve service availability.

The electric trains for Amtrak will be made in a Siemens plant in Sacramento, California that would generate some 200 jobs there.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Monday November 01 2010, 4:05 AM EST. Ref: Earth & Industry. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0