California HSR authority to gauge interest in trainsets, maintenance facility work

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) yesterday issued a request for expressions of interest (REOI) for what would be the first high-speed trainsets and maintenance facility in the nation. The REOIs are due Oct. 22.

The expressions of interest allow authority officials to begin conversations with high-speed rail trainset manufacturers, which will help shape a future request for proposals for the sets, according to a CHSRA press release.

"We are going to have the first true high-speed rail system in America and industry leaders from around the world are eager to talk to us about why their trains should be running on our tracks," said CHSRA Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales. "This is a big moment for our program."

The authority is seeking information from manufacturers regarding possible trainset procurements and how they would comply with federal Buy America and Buy California provisions.

The initial procurement is expected to be for a base order with options for production of up to 95 trainsets. The state's high-speed rail system calls for sustained speeds of more than 200 mph.

The trains would have at least 450 sets and be able to transport passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours, CHSRA officials said.

The REOIs also enable the authority to hear from manufacturers about the development of a heavy maintenance facility and three light maintenance facilities. Trainsets would be cleaned, washed and housed overnight in the light-maintenance facility, while the heavy-maintenance facility would be used for major maintenance work.

The authority plans to select a site in California's Central Valley for the heavy maintenance facility and choose locations along the alignment for the light-maintenance facilities.

CHSRA also appointed Melissa DuMond director of planning and integration. She will be responsible for advancing the implementation of the authority's high-speed rail program by coordinating station area development, overseeing the advancement of integrated service with other rail providers and managing general corridor planning activities.

DuMond for the past five years served as southwest regional manager for the Federal Railroad Administration, where she supported the development of California’s high-speed rail system.