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New Equipment for a Modern System
North Carolina’s
Department of Transportation is using funds from the Recovery Act to buy and
refurbish two locomotives for daily Piedmont passenger rail service.
Delaware
is purchasing four rail cars as part of a 120-car order by the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. The cars are being constructed by United
Transit Systems, located in south Philadelphia.
Delivery of these cars is expected in December 2011.
Standardized
Rail Cars Will Create New Incentives for American Industry While Reducing Costs
for States and Taxpayers
The
first specifications for bi-level coach, dining, baggage, and business class
rail cars to be constructed under the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
program were approved in August 2010. Rail cars that can be used by all the
states will reduce costs while increasing the efficiency of procurement and
manufacturing. Standard specifications are also expected to enable states to
pool their equipment purchases and generate more demand for manufacturers.
The
Next Generation Equipment Committee was established by Congress to “design,
develop specifications for, and procure standardized next-generation corridor
rail equipment.” Any state using federal funds for its high-speed and intercity
passenger rail program must use equipment that meets these specifications.
Members of the Executive Board include 11 state departments of transportation,
the Federal Railroad Administration, and Amtrak. AASHTO acts as the secretariat
for the Committee on behalf of the state DOTs. Efforts are currently underway
to finalize specifications for a single-level car and diesel locomotive, which
are expected to be approved in February 2011.
"The
Committee’s work is critical to creating a pipeline of passenger rail equipment
that will be needed over the coming decades. By providing a generic
specification for rail equipment, the Committee is creating a strong incentive
for the expansion of the U.S.
rail equipment manufacturing industry.” —Committee Chairman Bill Bronte, Rail
Director, California Department of Transportation
