6 replies to this topic

[jis]

More on ACS-64 deployment this week (week of Feb 3, 2014) onwards .... According to reports on Trainorders: 1. 600 will operate on 171 on Friday (Feb 7) 2. On Saturday and Sunday 600 will be on 152 and 159 3. During the week it will be on 184 and 129 (WAS - NYP and back) 4. 601 will be accepted on Feb 20 and will be assigned to 184/93 or 129. What does 600 do during the week then, don't know) 5. Starting March 1, until order completion Siemens will release 3 new locomotives per month.

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak/Seimans joint news release, 2/6:

NEW AMTRAK LOCOMOTIVES READY FOR SERVICE AND SET TO POWER NORTHEAST ECONOMY
Advanced technology keeps region connected and on the move; New era of mobility begins Feb. 7

WASHINGTON – When Amtrak Northeast Regional #171 departs Boston on Feb. 7, a new era of mobility will begin as the first of 70 new advanced technology electric locomotives enters revenue service. The modern equipment provides more reliable and efficient service for passengers, and will power the Northeast region’s economic growth and continued prosperity.

“Amtrak is integral to the daily life of the Northeast and the new locomotives will keep the people and businesses of the region connected and on the move,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman. “New equipment ensures Amtrak can deliver the reliable service the region depends on and supports the growth of the region as America’s economic powerhouse.”

“Beyond improved reliability of service, the new locomotives represent a prudent business decision to invest in the future of the Northeast region and better position Amtrak to support ridership growth in the coming years,” said Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia.

The new locomotives will serve as the strong workhorses of Amtrak Northeast Corridor operations, power all Northeast Regional and long-distance trains between Washington, New York and Boston, and match existing trip-times at speeds up to 125 mph. Eventually, they also will operate on the Keystone Service between New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa.

The Siemens-built electric locomotives, known as the Amtrak Cities Sprinter, are being assembled at its solar-powered rail manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif. The equipment includes parts built from Siemens plants in Norwood, Ohio, Alpharetta, Ga., and Richland, Miss., and nearly 70 other suppliers, representing more than 60 cities and 23 states.

“We are extremely proud to serve as a rail technology partner for Amtrak,” said Michael Cahill, President of Siemens Rail Systems in the U.S. “Through our teamwork with Amtrak, we are not only delivering improved performance, we’re boosting American manufacturing. Our innovation, expertise and proven technology are helping transportation operators across the country keep the economy moving.”

The new locomotives are designed for improved reliability and easier maintenance leading to faster turn-around times and increased availability for service. A state-of-the-art microprocessor system performs self-diagnosis of technical issues, takes self-corrective action and notifies the locomotive engineer. In addition, there are redundant systems to ensure power is maintained to the passenger cars to keep heating and cooling systems working, the lights on and the doors operational. The locomotives also meet the latest federal rail safety regulations, including crash energy management components.

Furthermore, the locomotives are energy efficient and use a regenerative braking system to feed energy back into the power grid. Together, the 70 locomotives could save over 3 billion-kilowatt hours of energy and could result in more than $300 million in savings over 20 years.

The new locomotives will replace older equipment that have between 25 and 35 years of service and average mileage of more than 3.5 million miles traveled with some approaching 4.5 million miles. Amtrak expects to have several more new locomotives enter revenue service in the coming weeks and then will receive monthly delivery of the remaining units through 2015.

Amtrak is a vital player in the Northeast economy and transportation system, connecting major business, financial, political, cultural, medical and educational centers. Today, Amtrak carries three passengers for every one airline passenger between Washington and New York, and moves more passengers between New York and Boston than all the airlines combined.

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 2/7/14:

Amtrak's first new electric locomotive ready for service

Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime fan of Amtrak, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx helped unveil the railroad's first new electric locomotive in a ceremony held yesterday at the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

Continue

[CNJRoss]

USDOT "New in the DOT Fast Lane," 2/7:

--Secretary Foxx: Amtrak and American jobs rolling forward with new locomotives

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of riding Amtrak from Washington, DC, to Philadelphia with the president of the Amtrak Fan Club. Of course, that title is unofficial and it comes with very few responsibilities because Amtrak's number one fan, Joe Biden, is already very busy as our nation's Vice President.

As Vice President Biden knows, it’s a good time to be in the Amtrak fan club. And it's not just because Amtrak has broken ridership record for ten of the past eleven years, reaching nearly 32 million riders in 2013.

It's because yesterday in Philadelphia--thanks to DOT support--Amtrak put into service the largest fleet of new electric locomotives built in the United States since World War II.

You can read more about Amtrak's new Northeast Corridor fleet on our Fast Lane blog.

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 3/4:

 

Siemens ACS-64 production hits halfway mark

 

Amtrak

 

As February ended, Siemens's Sacramento, Calif., plant sent out its 35th Amtrak Cities Sprinter 64 (ACS-64) electric locomotive, reaching the halfway mark of its planned delivery of 70 units.

 

Continue here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Sacramento company delivers last of 70 electric locomotives to Amtrak

Text and video here:

 

http://www.kcra.com/...amtrak/39875442

[CNJRoss]

Amtrak via PR Newswire:

 

Final ACS-64 Locomotive Enters Revenue Service

Siemens-built locomotives improve Amtrak service

 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS-64) locomotive #670 enters revenue service this week, marking delivery of the 70th ACS-64 locomotive to serve passengers along the highly-traveled Northeast Corridor and Keystone corridors for years to come. The Siemens-built equipment provides more reliable and efficient service for passengers.

 

"Delivery of the final ACS-64 locomotive marks a major milestone for Amtrak as this new fleet, a multimillion dollar investment, was delivered ahead of schedule and is improving service for millions of customers in the northeast," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman. "The locomotives have ushered in a new era of improved performance, efficiency and reliability that is integral to keeping the people and businesses in the northeast moving."

 

The advanced technology vehicles are designed for improved reliability and easier maintenance leading to faster turn-around times and increased availability of service. In fact, the equipment has already provided enhanced transportation benefits for passengers by improving on-time performance– reducing delay incidents by nearly 25 percent and reducing delay times by 30 percent. In addition, the locomotives meet the latest federal rail safety regulations, including crash energy management components, and come equipped with safety technology such as positive train control and inward-facing cameras.

 

"These locomotives promised a new era of mobility on the Northeast Corridor and we're extremely proud that they are living up to that promise by improving service for riders, all while being delivered ahead of schedule and on-budget," said Siemens Rolling Stock President Michael Cahill. "On behalf of the hundreds of Siemens employees who helped design, build, and service these advanced technology locomotives, in addition to our host of rail suppliers across the U.S., we congratulate Amtrak on this milestone and look forward to the future."

 

The partnership illustrates the value industry partners can derive from working with Amtrak. The locomotives were built at Siemens' rail manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif. – a facility that employs more than 900 people – and the equipment includes parts from more than 60 U.S. suppliers, in 50 cities and 20 states. The partnership with Amtrak was also instrumental in assisting Siemens to successfully market the locomotives and generate business in North America.

 

The electric locomotives were first unveiled at the Siemens manufacturing plant in 2013, following a rigorous testing program at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Technology Center (TTC) facility in Pueblo, Colo.  The advanced technology locomotive first entered Amtrak Northeast Corridor operations in 2014, powering all Northeast Regional and long-distance trains between Washington D.C., New York and Boston, and matching existing trip-times at speeds up to 125 mph. They also operate on the Keystone Service between New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa. at speeds of up to 125 mph.

 

Amtrak is a vital player in the Northeast economy and transportation system, connecting major business, financial, political, cultural, medical and educational centers. In 2015, Amtrak welcomed more than 30.8 million customers on board, representing the fifth straight year in which ridership exceeded 30 million.

 

Photos, videos, fact sheets and additional material are available here.