November 12, 2015
Contributed Art/Siemens
SEPTA ordered ACS-64 locomotives, which reach operating speeds up to 125 mph and will require less maintenance than current fleet.
SEPTA has reached a contract agreement with Siemens to procure 13 new locomotives that will be delivered to the transportation agency in 2018, officials announced.
The $113 million deal, which includes spare parts and staff training, is part of SEPTA's "Building the Future" program. It will bring in vehicles similar to those used by Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor, according to Railway Gazette.
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"The purchase of these new locomotives is the first of several new vehicle purchases," said SEPTA General Manager Jeff Knueppel. "We are looking forward to their arrival to help provide faster and more reliable regional rail service for our rapidly-growing ridership."
The ACS-64 locomotives, to be constructed at a Siemens plant in Sacramento, will include regenerative braking to store and reuse power, as well as microprocessor-based self-diagnostics for all key systems. The trains will be a step up in power from the current fleet and will be better equipped to handle wheelslip in wet or icy weather conditions.
Dave Warner, chief engineering officer for rail vehicles at SEPTA, told PhillyMag that the greatest benefit from the new trains will be easier maintenance. Replacing the current fleet of AEM-7 and ALP-44 models, many of whose parts are now difficult to track down, will allow for quicker repairs.
As part of the agreement, SEPTA will have the option to purchase five more locomotives, upping the contract value to $154 million.
