12 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Orlando, FL Business Journal, 9/11/14:

Siemens to build All Aboard Florida trains

All Aboard Florida on Sept. 11 announced it has selected Siemens to build locomotives and passenger cars for the $2.3 billion, 240-mile Miami-to-Orlando passenger rail.

This is the story.

[CNJRoss]

All Aboard Florida news release, 9/11:

All Aboard Florida Selects Siemens as Train Manufacturer
Trainsets will include Siemens Diesel-Electric Charger Locomotives and feature modern single-level intercity passenger cars, both manufactured in the U.S.

All Aboard Florida's Myles Tobin (right) visits Siemens' manufacturing facility in Sacramento, CA, where Siemens'
Michael Cahill (center) explains some of the technology that will be featured in All Aboard Florida's new rolling stock.


SACRAMENTO, Calif; September 11, 2014 -- Today it was announced that Siemens has been selected to build the locomotives and passenger coaches for the All Aboard Florida passenger rail project that will connect South and Central Florida. All Aboard Florida and Siemens have been working together extensively on the development and design of the passenger rail cars that will transport millions of tourists, leisure and business travelers along Florida's east coast.

This will be the first privately-owned, operated and maintained passenger rail system in the United States. When completed, it will also be one of the highest speed train routes running in the country today, operating at maximum speeds up to 125 mph. Importantly these trains, both the locomotives and the passenger coaches, will be "Made in America" at Siemens' solar-powered rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento.

"This is an exciting time for rail in America. Intercity rail is an important lever to improve existing infrastructure challenges and bolster city and state economies, clearly something that All Aboard Florida will succeed at doing," said Michael Cahill, President of Siemens' Rail Systems Division in the U.S. "Everyone is watching the development of this progressive operation with great interest, and we are extremely proud to be part of this effort."

"Our partnership with Siemens is another tremendous step forward for All Aboard Florida. We carefully chose Siemens technology knowing it will set a new industry standard, while providing the world class amenities our customers will expect from our passenger service," said Don Robinson, All Aboard Florida President and Chief Operating Officer.

The initial five trainset purchase to serve the Miami to West Palm Beach segment will consist of two diesel-electric locomotives, one on each end of four passenger coaches. These diesel-electric locomotives will meet the highest emissions standards set by the federal government. All Aboard Florida and Siemens plan to expand the initial trainsets to seven coaches, and purchase an additional five trainsets, concurrent with environmental approvals and additional financing for the segment from West Palm Beach to the Orlando International Airport.

The stainless steel passenger coaches, the first to be manufactured by Siemens in the United States, will be state-of-the-art, ADA compliant and designed for comfort, featuring special ergonomic seating and Wi-Fi. The trainsets will also be level boarding, which allows for the ease of boarding without steps and provides easier access for bikes, walkers, strollers and wheelchairs. The locomotives will meet the latest federal rail safety regulations, including enhanced carbody structure safety with crash energy management components.

These trains are fully Buy America-compliant. They will be built in Sacramento with main components of the trains coming from Siemens plants throughout the United States - including traction motors and gearboxes from Norwood, Ohio, and propulsion containers from Alpharetta, Georgia. The diesel engines will be manufactured by Cummins in its Seymour, Indiana, plant. Siemens has established a robust and diverse base of U.S. suppliers across the country that currently provides components and parts for all of Siemens' U.S. passenger-rail vehicle production. Siemens' Sacramento plant, which has been in operation for almost 30 years, is up to 80 percent powered by two megawatts of solar energy and currently employs more than 800 people. The trains will be maintained and serviced in West Palm Beach and the Orlando International Airport ensuring full-time employment for more than 120 people.

For more information, photos and executive comment, please visit: http://inr.synapticd...com/siemens/AAF.

# # #

About Siemens' Rail, Transit & Mobility Portfolio

Siemens designs and manufactures across the entire spectrum of rolling stock including commuter and regional passenger trains, light rail and streetcars, metros, locomotives, passenger coaches and high-speed trainsets. In the U.S., Siemens is providing rail vehicles, locomotives, components and systems to more than 25 agencies in cities such as Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Houston, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, St. Louis, Atlanta and Charlotte. Cities also rely on Siemens to provide traction-power substations and electricity transmission, as well as signaling and control technology for passenger rail and transit systems.



About All Aboard Florida

All Aboard Florida is an intercity passenger rail project being developed by Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI) - owner of Florida's premier passenger rail corridor - that will connect Miami to Orlando with intermediate stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. This rail service will give Floridians and visitors a viable transportation alternative to congested highways and airport terminals. All Aboard Florida will provide a high quality experience for its passengers and will be the first privately owned, operated, and maintained passenger rail system in the United States. For more information, visit www.AllAboardFlorida.com.


About Florida East Coast Industries

Florida East Coast Industries, LLC (FECI) is one of Florida's oldest and largest full-service commercial real estate, transportation, and infrastructure companies. Headquartered in Coral Gables, Fla., FECI has a rich history dating back over a century. Mr. Henry Flagler first established a predecessor company in 1892, which became a pioneer in the development of Florida's eastern coast. Today, FECI continues to transform Florida as the parent company to four distinct business lines including Flagler, a full-service commercial real estate company; All Aboard Florida, the United States' first privately owned and operated intercity passenger rail system; Flagler Global Logistics, an integrated logistics company that offers a wide range of logistics services and real estate solutions; and Parallel Infrastructure, a leader in third-party Right of Way (ROW) investments and management services. FECI is owned by private equity funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group, LLC. For more information, visit www.feci.com.

[JEANYLASER]

great news I can't wait to ride it in 2017!

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 1/26:
 

Siemens completes first Brightline coach carshell

 

Brightline, the higher-speed passenger rail service being developed by Florida East Coast Industries subsidiary All Aboard Florida, and Siemens Rolling Stock announced on January 26, 2016 that the first stainless steel carshell for the new service has been completed.

 

Described as “a major construction milestone,” the carshell is part of the first of Brightline’s initial five four-car, 240-passenger trainsets, with more trainsets to follow as the service expands. Siemens is also supplying the locomotives, which will be its Charger 125-mph diesel-electrics.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Fla.'s Brightline commuter rail system announced that its new trains will be the first in the U.S. to utilize retractable gap fillers, making boarding and disembarking the trains easy and convenient for all riders.

Brightline and Siemens collaborated with Bode to develop the custom gap filler that is integrated into the train car door system. Bode has gained global recognition for its custom-built door systems, which are in use on passenger trains and light rail vehicles across the world.

Related: Siemens completes first car shell for Fla.'s Brightline

Prior to the doors opening, the custom gap filler will extend up to 12 inches from the train and pivot to meet the station platform, creating a flush surface for passengers to cross and making it easy for those in wheelchairs, pushing strollers or luggage to board Brightline at stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

“In order to make boarding our trains fast and easy for our all of our guests, we are using the latest technology available and have customized it to create a smart solution unique to our trains and stations,” said Gene Skoropowski, Brightline’s sr. VP, railroad operations. “In building our trains, we are innovating to make train travel easier and more comfortable for all of our guests. We are thrilled to be the first passenger train in the U.S. using this technology from Bode.”

Brightline’s trains are being constructed by Siemens at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. The first passenger coach shell was completed recently and is going through a finishing process, preparing it for final assembly. Brightline is expected to take delivery of the first train sets later this year. Construction is also underway on Brightline’s train stations in Downtown Miami at MiamiCentral, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando.

Keywords

Bode   Brightline   commuter rail   mind the gap   passenger safety   Siemens   

 

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[Sloan]

I hope this technology would give greater trackage access to passenger rail.  Freight railroads often get frustrated with passenger trains on their lines because high level platform levels are too close to tracks.  Freight cars and TOFC have wider beams that may not always clear platforms.  Passenger cars with retractable bridge plates can solve that issue thereby allowing greater mixed use of rail lines—SEPTA comes to mind—for the combined benefit of commutation and economic development.

 

Back in the interurban days, the Chicago Aurora & Elgin had folding metal bridge plates at some of its stations.  When a freight train would come by, a brakeman would stand on the front deck of a steeple cab engine.  Using a long pole, he would flip the plates back to allow freight car clearance.  

 

Sloan 

[Sloan]

 

 

All Aboard Florida: Brightline unveils its passenger cars

 Brightline, the high-speed rail service that promises to connect Miami and Orlando, is making a $2.5 billion bet that passengers will pay to ride its shiny new trains.

How does Brightline President Michael Reininger hope to win such a large wager? By focusing on the tiniest details.

http://www.mypalmbea...passenge/nrb9j/

[KevinKorell]

MSN & CNBC, 6/10/16:

Florida wants California's jobs, but look who's laughing now

Florida Gov. Rick Scott visited California in May, hoping to lure away dissatisfied business owners from high-tax California to the low-tax Sunshine State.

Now, a company in Florida behind the first privately funded U.S. high speed railway is manufacturing its trains ... in California.

Story

[CNJRoss]

YouTube "GoBrightline" channel, 9/8/16:

 

Brightline Locomotive Completes Initial Testing

[Sloan]

 

 

Brightline locomotive rolls on Siemens test track

 

Brightline’s first Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotive has successfully completed initial testing and operated for the first time, powered by its Cummins QSK95 diesel engine, on the quarter-mile test track at the Siemens manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif.

http://www.railwayag...nt=Full Article