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I’m loving it. After twenty years of talk, the shovels are now in the ground, and the trains are on order…
On April 22, 2024, Brightline West celebrated its groundbreaking. The 218-mile system will be constructed in the median of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The $12 billion project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The rest of the project will be privately funded.
Brightline announced that Siemens Mobility (Siemens) has been designated the “preferred bidder” to build train sets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project, connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. The contract will include a fleet of ten “American Pioneer 220” (AP 220) train sets to be manufactured, delivered to Nevada, and tested to support Brightline West’s timeline of initiating service in 2028.
Today’s announcement came after a multi-year competitive procurement process conducted among multiple global competitors. The selection, which is subject to the conclusion of definitive agreements, is based on specific criteria that include price, manufacturing schedule, train performance (e.g., speed and travel time), ADA compliance, passenger amenities, and total passenger capacity. In addition, the criteria considered future interoperability with the California High-Speed Rail project. The trains will be built in accordance with all applicable “Buy America” requirements.
This selection includes a 30-year rolling stock maintenance contract at Brightline West’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Sloan, NV. Crews will perform routine daily maintenance and long-term overhauls and repairs, generating permanent high-paying jobs in train maintenance.
With the selection, Siemens will introduce the AP220 trainsets, representing a new generation of innovative high-speed technology featuring the latest in passenger experience, cutting-edge digital technology, and a revolutionary propulsion system built specifically for the U.S. market.
These trains are an evolution of the proven Velaro platform currently operating in Europe. The AP220 will introduce state-of-the-art technology through an American supply chain, spurring the United States to establish a new industry that rivals countries that have had high-speed rail for decades. When the contract is finalized, Siemens will establish a new facility to build the AP220 and announce the location of America’s first true high-speed rail production center.
“Just as we redefined train travel with our trainsets for Brightline Florida, we are excited to pioneer this new frontier of manufacturing and development for Brightline West,” said Michael Reininger, Brightline’s CEO. “The momentum we are building will culminate in new jobs and a new supply chain that will establish the foundation for a high-speed rail industry from coast to coast.”
“We are excited to work with Brightline to transform rail in America. The high-speed chapter of America’s rail story will build on Siemens’ 40 years of designing, building, testing, delivering, and maintaining trains in the United States,” stated Marc Buncher, Siemens Mobility North America CEO. “On behalf of our 4,500 rail employees across the United States, we are excited to be selected to build and maintain America’s first true high-speed trains, which will feature some of the world’s most innovative high-speed rail technology. When they enter service, it will be one of the most pivotal moments in the history of American rail.”
The AP 220 will be the first true high-speed train sets to be built in America and are designed for operational speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. The propulsion system, lighter weight, and aerodynamic shape make it more efficient than other high-speed trains. The AP220 features an ultrawide car body designed for unparalleled passenger comfort and is designed to be the most accessible train on the market, exceeding ADA requirements and allowing guests in wheelchairs to move easily from car to car. Depending on the final configuration, the seven-car trains will carry between 434 and 450 passengers and can make the trip in less than two hours.
Brightline partnered with Siemens Mobility to develop the Venture series train sets, which debuted in 2018 on the company’s Florida system.
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