Amtrak names Siemens mobility preferred bidder for new train equipment
California-based Siemens Mobility will be the new builder of new trainsets for Amtrak. The new trainsets will replace Amfleet 1 cars, Metroliner cabs, and Talgo trainsets currently in use. The 83 new intercity trainsets will operate along the Northeast Corridor, on state-supported regional services, and on the Palmetto route between New York and Savannah. New equipment is expected to be the same as or similar to Siemens Venture trainsets already in use on Amtrak Midwest, Florida Brightline and Canadian VIA Rail routes. [forbes.com]
MTA looks to roll out first battery-powered passenger trains in U.S. on LIRR
The Long Island Rail Road will test new battery technology that could speed up the New York MTA’s efforts to fully electrify the commuter rail service. The agency inked an $850,000 deal with railcar manufacturer Alstom to retrofit some LIRR cars with batteries – to see if they’re reliable enough to replace soot-spewing diesel-powered trains. The altered trains would be the first battery-powered passenger cars ever used in the U.S. Similar technology is already operational in Europe and Asia.The battery-powered trains will be tested on the LIRR’s Oyster Bay Branch route over the course of eight months starting later this year. [nydailynews.com]
Pandemic-curtailed Pacific NW Amtrak service to be partially restored next month
Amtrak and the state transportation departments of Oregon and Washington plan to restore a good chunk of the passenger train service curtailed due to the pandemic. Beginning May 24th, Amtrak will restore daily service on its long distance routes through the Pacific Northwest, meaning the Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle/Portland) and Coast Starlight (Seattle to Los Angeles) routes. They had been cut to thrice weekly service since last year. Also on May 24, state-supported Amtrak Cascades service partially bounces back with a second daily roundtrip between Seattle and Eugene and a third roundtrip serving the Seattle-Portland segment. [nwnewsnetwork.org]
US infrastructure plan spurs talk of Amtrak Vegas-LA rail service
Proposed federal infrastructure funding for rail projects has transportation planners taking another look at a Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas passenger route that Amtrak stopped in 1997 and at a high-speed rail line along the congested Interstate 15 corridor to Victorville, California. President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion jobs bill would finance Amtrak plans to expand service nationwide and launch multiple new routes, including one between southern Nevada and Southern California. The measure might also provide funding for Brightline West’s project that would have passenger trains whisking at up to 200 mph (322 kph) on a route generally along the busy interstate. [apnews.com]
Legislators sponsor bill aimed at bringing commuter rail to New Hampshire
U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH) have reintroduced legislation that could help bring commuter rail to Manchester. The Invest in American Railroads Act seeks to make improvements to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) and help New Hampshire pay for the Capitol Corridor Project, liking Nashua, Manchester and Concord to Boston via commuter rail. Kuster’s legislation was co-sponsored by Representatives Lloyd K. Smucker (R-PA) and Chris Pappas (D-NH). [manchesterinklink.com]
