Amtrak Orders Dual-Power And Battery Venture Trains

On 7 July 2021, Siemens Mobility announced that it has been awarded a 3.4 billion USD contract by Amtrak to design, manufacture and technically support 73 single-deck push-pull trains using dual-power Charger locomotives. There is also a possibility for up to 140 additional trains and further maintenance agreements (however Amtrak states that the order includes 83 trains with an option for up to 130 more).

The trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), long distance Palmetto services and across various state-supported routes, including operations in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. With expanded capacity and the ability to shorten journey times, Amtrak expects the new trains will add over 1.5 million passengers annually.

It is the largest North American Siemens Mobility contract in history, and it includes dual-power trains (the first to be delivered in 2024) and hybrid battery trains (the first of them will begin testing in 2025). They will be built at Siemens Mobility’s Sacramento works and are scheduled for delivery between 2024 and 2030.

Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said: „These new trains will reshape the future of rail travel by replacing our 40 - 50 years old fleet with state-of-the-art, American-made equipment.“ Accompanying the manufacturing contract will be a long-term service agreement for technical support, spare parts and material supply.

The Venture units will feature more comfortable seating, individual power sockets and USB ports, on-board Wifi, enhanced lighting and panoramic windows, a more contemporary food service experience, including self-service options, as well as modern passenger information system, digital seat reservation and suchlike.

In addition, they will be designed with Amtrak’s new standard of enhanced accessible features, including inductive hearing loops, accessible restrooms and vestibules, accessible Food Service car, and lifts for customers with reduced mobility, including wheelchair users.

We asked Siemens for CAD pictures of the new trains and their principal technical data (axle arrangement, voltage, traction power, brake power, maximum speed, dimensions, weights, capacity). In spite of the fact that this is a „historic contract ... for sustainable, and reliable trains ... that will reshape the future of rail“, we received an answer „Unfortunately, we don’t have this specific information yet. We can provide when we have.“