Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation of the United States, has ordered an additional 50 Charger Locomotives from Siemens Mobility. Together with the initial order of 75 locomotives in 2018, the 125 diesel-electric units are an important part of Amtrak’s sustainability initiative and are considerably more environmentally friendly than their 1990’s predecessors. The total contract value of up to USD 2 billion includes the original contract for USD 850 million and incorporates both the manufacturing as well as the long-term service agreement for technical support, spare parts, and material supply.The Charger is the most energy-efficient Tier 4 passenger locomotive in the industry. They reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by more than 89 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent, while consuming less fuel than the locomotives being retired, and can reach a greater top speed of 125 mph.The new locomotives are designated as ALC-42 for “Amtrak Long-distance Charger, 4,200-horsepower.” They will primarily replace Amtrak P40 and P42 diesel-electric locomotives, which have a lower top speed and began service under different emissions standards 30 years ago. The first of the ALC-42’s entered service in February 2022 on the Empire Builder route and are next to be deployed on the well-known City of New Orleans route, running between its namesake city and Chicago.The ALC-42 locomotives are being manufactured at Siemens Mobility’s North American rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California and comply with the Federal Railroad Administration Buy America Standards. The plant is one of the largest of its kind on the continent, and one of the most sustainable, using a 2.1 MWp solar panel installation to generate much of its power from the California sun. It is part of Siemens Mobility’s larger U.S. manufacturing network, with eight facilities, more than 4,000 employees and 2,000 American suppliers, including Cummins, which manufactures the Tier-4 complaint diesel engines in Seymour, Indiana.
Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation of the United States, has ordered an additional 50 Charger Locomotives from Siemens Mobility. Together with the initial order of 75 locomotives in 2018, the 125 diesel-electric units are an important part of Amtrak’s sustainability initiative and are considerably more environmentally friendly than their 1990’s predecessors. The total contract value of up to USD 2 billion includes the original contract for USD 850 million and incorporates both the manufacturing as well as the long-term service agreement for technical support, spare parts, and material supply.The Charger is the most energy-efficient Tier 4 passenger locomotive in the industry. They reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by more than 89 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent, while consuming less fuel than the locomotives being retired, and can reach a greater top speed of 125 mph.The new locomotives are designated as ALC-42 for “Amtrak Long-distance Charger, 4,200-horsepower.” They will primarily replace Amtrak P40 and P42 diesel-electric locomotives, which have a lower top speed and began service under different emissions standards 30 years ago. The first of the ALC-42’s entered service in February 2022 on the Empire Builder route and are next to be deployed on the well-known City of New Orleans route, running between its namesake city and Chicago.The ALC-42 locomotives are being manufactured at Siemens Mobility’s North American rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California and comply with the Federal Railroad Administration Buy America Standards. The plant is one of the largest of its kind on the continent, and one of the most sustainable, using a 2.1 MWp solar panel installation to generate much of its power from the California sun. It is part of Siemens Mobility’s larger U.S. manufacturing network, with eight facilities, more than 4,000 employees and 2,000 American suppliers, including Cummins, which manufactures the Tier-4 complaint diesel engines in Seymour, Indiana.
