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[KevinKorell]

Siemens Mobility was awarded an approximate $846 million contract to design and manufacture 75 Charger diesel-electric locomotives for Amtrak. The 75 locomotives will replace and supplement Amtrak’s aging national network diesel locomotive fleet used on long-distance and state-supported routes. It also includes a multi-year Technical Support Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA).

Delivery of the new locomotives will begin in summer 2021, with passenger service starting in fall 2021. The locomotives will power trains used on lines that span the U.S., both from north-to-south and east-to-west. All locomotives are expected to be in service by 2024.

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The Charger locomotive is one of the most popular passenger locomotives in North America today with more than 70 Chargers successfully transporting passengers throughout North America, traveling approximately three million miles per year. The locomotives offer the latest safety systems including crash energy management and U.S.-mandated Positive Train Control. Capable of speeds up to 125 miles per hour, the new locomotives feature the QSK95 Cummins 4,400 horsepower-capable 16-cylinder engine, which increases capacity and result in greater availability.

The Charger is lower-noise than the diesel engines it will be replacing and offers a streamlined design with smoother traction control. The quieter, smoother ride results in an improved experience for both operators and passengers.

RELATED: San Francisco rolls out new Siemens light rail vehicles

The new locomotives are also more environmentally-responsible than their predecessors, providing the latest Tier 4 emissions technology, reducing nitrogen oxide by over 89% and particulate matter by 95%, compared to Tier 0 standard.

The locomotives are “Buy American-compliant,” and will be manufactured at Siemens Mobility’s North American rail manufacturing plant in Sacramento, California. The plant is powered by up to 80% renewable solar energy. The engines are manufactured by Cummins in its Seymour, Indiana plant.

Keywords

Amtrak   Buy America   crash energy management   Cummins   PTC   Siemens Mobility   

 

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[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 12/21/18:
 

Amtrak begins power renewal, orders 75 Siemens Chargers for long distance trains

 

 

Amtrak will acquire 75 new Siemens Charger diesel locomotives for $850 million to replace aging power in its National Network locomotive fleet.

 

The initial order contract covers the Tier 4 locomotives and associated services, to be deployed principally on Amtrak’s Long Distance train services, with options to purchase more for use on some state-supported routes and for future growth.

 

“These new locomotives will offer increased reliability, more hauling power, improved safety features and lower emissions,” said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Richard Anderson.

 

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[CNJRoss]

Siemens Mobility news release:

 

Siemens Mobility secures €744M order from Amtrak in the United States

 

Munich, 2018-Dec-21

 

• 75 Charger diesel-electric locomotives
• Includes a 20-year Technical Support Spares Supply Agreement
• Locomotives are expected to begin passenger service in the fall of 2021

 

Siemens Mobility has been awarded a €744 million contract to design and manufacture 75 Charger diesel-electric locomotives for Amtrak, the United States‘ National Railroad Passenger Corporation. These 75 locomotives will replace and supplement Amtrak’s aging national network diesel locomotive fleet used on long-distance and state-supported routes. It also includes a multi-year Technical Support Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA). Delivery of the new locomotives will begin in summer, 2021, with passenger service starting in fall, 2021.

 

These locomotives will power trains used on lines that span the United States, both from north-to-south and east-to-west: Auto Train (Washington, DC to Orlando, FL), California Zephyr (Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA), Capitol Limited (Washington, DC to Chicago, Illinois), Cardinal (New York, New York to Chicago, Illinois), City of New Orleans (Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana), Coast Starlight (Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California), Crescent (New York, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana), Empire Builder (Chicago, Illinois to Seattle, Washington), Lake Shore Limited (Boston, Massachusetts to Chicago, Illinois), Palmetto (New York, New York to Savannah, Georgia) Silver Star/Silver Meteor (New York, New York to Miami, Florida), Southwest Chief (Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California), Sunset Limited (New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California) and Texas Eagle (Chicago, Illinois to San Antonio, Texas). All locomotives are expected to be in service by 2024.

 

"We're proud and grateful to expand our relationship with Amtrak, a leader in the U.S. passenger rail transportation, which started nearly a decade ago with locomotives for the Northeast Corridor, connecting two of the U.S.'s largest cities, Washington, DC and New York, NY. We're confident that the new locomotives will assist Amtrak in its mission to provide safe, world-class, environmentally-responsible technology for its passengers," said Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens Mobility. "The Chargers will provide enhanced passenger experience, greater availability and increased sustainability over the course of their lifecycle, improving Amtrak's long-distance services and operating efficiencies."

 

The Charger locomotive is one of the most popular passenger locomotives in North America today with more than 70 Chargers successfully transporting passengers throughout North America, traveling almost 5 million kilometers a year. They offer the latest safety systems including Crash Energy Management and U.S.-mandated Positive Train Control (PTC), which is a communication-based train control that results in greater efficiency. Capable of speeds up to 125 MPH, the new locomotives feature the QSK95 Cummins 4,400 horsepower-capable 16-cylinder engine, which increase capacity and result in greater availability. The Charger is lower-noise than the diesel engines it will be replacing and offers a streamlined design with smoother traction control. The quieter, smoother ride results in an improved experience for both operators and passengers.

 

The new locomotives are also more environmentally-responsible than their predecessors, providing the latest Tier 4 emissions technology, reducing nitrogen oxide by over 89 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent, compared to Tier 0 standard.

The locomotives are "Buy American-compliant," and will be manufactured at Siemens Mobility's North American rail manufacturing plant in Sacramento, CA. The plant is powered by up to 80 percent renewable solar energy. The engines are manufactured by Cummins in its Seymour, Indiana plant.

 

 

 

Siemens Mobility is a separately managed company of Siemens AG. As a leader in transport solutions for more than 160 years, Siemens Mobility is constantly innovating its portfolio in its core areas of rolling stock, rail automation and electrification, turnkey systems, intelligent traffic systems as well as related services. With digitalization, Siemens Mobility is enabling mobility operators worldwide to make infrastructure intelligent, increase value sustainably over the entire lifecycle, enhance passenger experience and guarantee availability. In fiscal year 2018, which ended on September 30, 2018, the former Siemens Mobility Division posted revenue of €8.8 billion and had around 28,400 employees worldwide. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/mobility.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak press release 8/5/20
 

AMTRAK PREPARES FOR NEW DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE FLEET

Transitional paint scheme on the first ALC-42 Siemens Chargers

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak today released renderings and other information about the first of the diesel-electric locomotives that will replace the current fleet on the National Network, including all long distance and many state-sponsored routes.

 

Five of the first six locomotives will have this version of our current Phase VI paint scheme (a “livery” in trade terms) and one will be painted to recognize next year’s 50^th anniversary of the inauguration of Amtrak service. A final livery will be unveiled later as part of a fleet-wide plan.

 

The ALC-42 series was developed by Amtrak with Siemens Mobility and is equipped with the latest safety systems, including Positive Train Control and Crash Energy Management. They have Alternating Current Propulsion for a maximum speed of 125 mph. The 16-cylinder Cummins QSK95 engine has Tier 4 Emissions Technology to reduce nitrogen oxide by more than 89 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent, while providing a savings in diesel fuel consumption and reaching Amtrak Sustainability goals.

 

The initial order of 75 new locomotives was first announced by Amtrak in December 2018, with deliveries expected through 2024. Amtrak also has a provision to order additional ALC-42 locomotives.

 

They are similar to the SC-44 locomotives purchased by some state agencies and operated by Amtrak, but have greater fuel capacity for longer routes and increased Head End Power generating capacity for bigger trains. A multitude of other upgrades will also lead to longer maintenance intervals. The front of the ALC-42 locomotive will serve as a “new face of Amtrak” in much of the U.S. and is designed to enhance safety, aesthetics and to simplify repairs.  

 

The new locomotives are designated as ALC-42 for “Amtrak Long-distance Charger, 4,200-horsepower” and are in production in Sacramento, Calif. They will primarily replace Amtrak P40 and P42 diesel-electric locomotives. Although modern when bought in the 90s, the P-series locomotives have been intensively used for more than 25 years, lack up to date technology and do not achieve Tier 4 emissions standards.

 

Amtrak is purchasing the new locomotives through available funds and fulfills “Buy American” provisions. Siemens Mobility has suppliers across the United States to support locomotive production, including Cummins, which manufactures the diesel engines in Seymour, Ind.

 

These new locomotives are part of Amtrak’s long-term planned series of improvements for fleet, infrastructure and stations, including new Acela trainsets now undergoing tests to begin service next year. Improvements are ongoing at New York Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall, in addition to expanded development of the major stations at Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago.

 

Additional renderings of this new series of locomotives are in the Amtrak Media Center.

 

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age 8/5/20

 

Amtrak “Phase VI” Livery Gets a Fresh Application

 

 

Amtrak diesel-electric locomotives have worn many liveries over the years since the company was founded in 1971. The latest of these is a variation on the current “Phase VI” scheme that dates to 2002, to be worn by five of the first six ALC-42 Siemens Chargers that will replace the current P40 and P42 “Genesis” fleet on the National Network, including all long-distance and many state-sponsored routes. The sixth unit will be painted to recognize next year’s 50th anniversary of the inauguration of Amtrak service. Amtrak says “a final livery will be unveiled later as part of a fleet-wide plan.”

 

 

Siemens Mobility and Amtrak developed the ALC-42 (“Amtrak Long-distance Charger, 4,200-horsepower) series. Similar to the SC-44 locomotives purchased by some state agencies and operated by Amtrak, these units have greater fuel capacity for longer routes and increased HEP (Head End Power) generating capacity for larger consists. Amtrak notes that “a multitude of other upgrades will also lead to longer maintenance intervals. The nose of the ALC-42 will serve as a ‘new face of Amtrak’ in much of the U.S. and is designed to enhance safety and aesthetics and to simplify repairs.”

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Trains magazine, 6/11/21:

 

 

    First Amtrak ALC-42 diesel locomotive set for release  

 

 

Siemens is putting the finishing touches on Amtrak’s first ALC-42 locomotive, with its departure scheduled for this weekend.

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak Charger ALC-42 Departs for the Northeast Corridor

 

June 14, 2021

 

Amtrak

 

The first new American-made Charger ALC-42 locomotive shipped from Sacramento for testing on the Northeast Corridor. We’re enhancing the passenger experience with proven reliability and performance.

 

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak's First Siemens ALC-42 Charger on Eastbound California Zephyr [4K]

 

June 13, 2021

 

John's Junction Railroad Videos (jreichel1)

 

Amtrak 300, the first of their fleet of new Siemens ALC-42 diesels for long-distance trains, was part of the eastbound California Zephyr, train 6, on Saturday, June 12. 2021. Seen at the Martinez, Calif. Amtrak station. [Two cameras, one HD and one 4K, edited and rendered in 4K]

 

[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire,  6/15/21

 

Amtrak show off first long-distance Siemens Charger diesel locomotive

 

Initial ALC42, with upgrades from SC44 model used in state service, still months from revenue operation

 

 

Amtrak 300 on display at Chicago Union Station on June 15, 2021. David Lassen

 

CHICAGO — While the locomotive is so new that Amtrak doesn’t even have the keys yet, the passenger railroad showed off the first of its new long-distance Siemens Chargers on Tuesday at Chicago Union Station as part of a media event on upcoming improvements to long-distance service.

 

The first of the ALC42 locomotives is still two or three months from entering service. After taking delivery, it will be sent to Wilmington, Del., where it will test on Amtrak-owned tracks, then enter service on the long-distance trains that operate to and from Washington, D.C. — the Crescent, Capitol Limited, and Cardinal.

 

The locomotive wears what Amtrak is calling a “transitional” paint scheme that will be featured only on eight locomotives, with the blue on the carbody ending at a red chevron meant to harken back to the similar mark that was part of the “Phase One” paint scheme. (P42 locomotive No. 161, wearing the 50th anniversary version of that scheme, was also on display at Union Station’s Track 2.)

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak ALC-42 New Locomotive - A First Look

 

CoasterFan2105

Jun 18, 2021

 

The ALC-42 is a brand new, state of the art locomotive design built by Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California. Amtrak has purchased 75 of these locomotives, which are part of the Charger diesel-electric locomotive series, to replace P40 and P42DC units that were built in the mid 1990s. I was invited by Siemens Mobility and Amtrak to document the completion of the first new locomotive, Amtrak number 300, and explore the assembly process for these highly advanced machines at their Sacramento manufacturing facility. In this video, we talk with Armin Kick of Siemens Mobility as well as Roger Harris and Scot Naparstek of Amtrak about these locomotives and how they will improve Amtrak service in the years ahead.