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 interviews, please visit: http://inr.synapticdigital.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.
Copyright Business Wire 2014