Siemens wins multi-state locomotive contract

Siemens has obtained a $225 million contract to build 32 diesel-electric locomotives for the multi-state passenger-rail locomotive procurement being led by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the company announced this morning.

The Charger locomotives will be built at Siemens' rail-manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif. All main components of the locomotives will be produced at Siemens plants in the United States, including traction motors and gearboxes in Norwood, Ohio, and propulsion containers in Alpharetta, Ga. The diesel engines will be manufactured by Cummins at its plant in Seymour, Ind.

The procurement is being done on behalf of the transportation departments from Illinois, California, Michigan, Washington and Missouri. The project includes options for 225 additional locomotives. The first locomotives are scheduled for delivery in 2016.

The Charger will be powered by a high-performance, environment-friendly, 4,400 horsepower-rated Cummins QSK95 diesel engine designed to ensure compliance with Federal Railroad Administration EPA Tier IV emissions regulations, required to be in place in 2015, Siemens officials said in a press release.

"The new Charger locomotives represent the next-generation of equipment advancing high performance intercity passenger rail in the Midwest, California and Pacific Northwest," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "This state-of-the-art equipment will accelerate and brake more quickly, reducing trip times for passengers, as well as being more fuel efficient and burning cleaner than previous locomotives for the benefit of the environment."