New diesel-electric locomotive specs OK’d

New specifications for diesel-electric locomotives were approved Wednesday by the Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee, in what the committee called the next step in a national effort to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to build and purchase rail cars and other equipment for America’s emerging high speed rail and intercity passenger rail program.

Any state using federal funds for its passenger rail program must use equipment that meets these specifications.

The committee is a collaboration of 11 states, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, rail equipment manufacturers, and suppliers. It was created by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) to develop specifications and procurement strategies for America’s next generation of passenger rail cars and equipment.

AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, acts as the secretariat for the Board and provides support services for the Committee.

“Rail cars and locomotives that can be used by all the states will reduce costs while increasing the efficiency of procurement and manufacturing,” said Bill Bronte, chairman of the committee’s executive board and rail director for the California Department of Transportation. “Standard specs will also enable states to pool their equipment purchases and therefore generate more demand for manufacturers. This is fundamental to building and sustaining our own American-based manufacturing capability for passenger rail, and will generate investment and create jobs here in the U.S.”

Last month the group approved single-level, stand-alone corridor passenger cars. Last August, it approved specifications for bi-level coach, dining, baggage, and business class rail cars.

“Taken together, these actions will advance the ability for domestic manufacturers to gear up and really get to work on American-made train sets,” Bronte said.

Amtrak Vice President Stephen Gardner said recently America’s intercity passenger railroad also plans to use the standard specs, as applicable, to purchase new cars or locomotives for Amtrak’s national system, adding that Amtrak’s involvement would help “create as big a buy as you can to get economies of scale.”