East and west coasts in high-speed train bid

Rolling stock manufacturers around the world are being asked to design a new high-speed train for the USA.

Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) have issued a joint request to see if it is possible to develop an existing high-speed train model to run on both the brand new railway under construction on the west coast and the ageing infrastructure of the Northeast Corridor (NEC).

Announcing the invitation to train builders, Amtrak and CHSRA said they hoped to find a platform that could meet both the short-term and long-term needs of the two companies.

By combining their procurement power, the two bodies also hope to reduce the unit cost of the new trains.

Amtrak is looking to order 28 high-speed trains, capable of meeting or improving journey times between Washington, New York and Boston.

Combining orders between Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority will generate economies of scale and make it more attractive for high-speed rail manufacturers to build factories here in the USA…
Almost 3,000 miles away, CHSRA is setting its sights on an initial order for 15 high-speed trains.

Amtrak president and chief executive Joe Boardman said: “With packed trains and increasing demand, the need to expand the capacity of Amtrak’s high-speed service cannot be overstated.

“It is absolutely critical that we get more high-speed trains as soon as possible to provide more service and meet the growing mobility and economic needs of the Northeast region.”

“Today’s announcement is one more step in our efforts to standardize domestic rail equipment and reinvigorate U.S. manufacturing,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo.

“Combining orders between Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority will generate economies of scale and make it more attractive for high-speed rail manufacturers to build factories here in the USA, bringing new high-quality jobs and creating ripple effects throughout our domestic supply chain. The end result means the riding public will have lighter, faster, more energy efficient passenger rail service.”

Manufacturers will have until May 17 to submit their proposals, with a successful bid expected to be announced by the end of the year.




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