Siemens revs up to compete for U.S. high speed rail business

Siemens Mobility said Thursday that it’s ready to expand its manufacturing plant at Sacramento to meet U.S demand for high speed trains and associated rail infrastructure technologies. Specific actions include the now-completed purchase of 20 acres of land adjacent to its existing 34-acre light rail vehicle manufacturing facility in Sacramento. Power supply will also be added from renewable energy sources.

“We applaud the Obama Administration’s commitment to building America’s high speed rail system. Siemens is ready to not only bring its proven high speed train technology to the U.S. market, but also to build the systems right here in the United States,” said Oliver Hauck, president of Siemens Mobility in the U.S.

“Siemens makes a line of trains that run up to 220 mph that are currently operating in Germany (pictured, the Velaro), China, Russia, and Spain,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “These trains are a match for the systems proposed for California and Florida.” Siemens also produces a line of trains that operate between 110 mph and 125 mph that it saidwould fit the requirements of higher speed rail (HrSR) on existing freight/passenger corridors, such as in the Midwest.

“We can also design and implement rail automation and electrification equipment to move high speed rail systems safely, efficiently, and with as little impact on the environment as possible,” said Hauck.

Siemens says the Sacramento facility “is the only permanent LRV manufacturing facility in the U.S.” Siemens employs more than 700 people in this facility, which recently underwent a $26 million expansion (see aerial photo with diagram). The company is also expanding its solar energy system, doubling the capacity from one megawatt to two full megawatts, “which will meet nearly all of the factory’s current power needs and a portion of those required for the manufacture of high speed trains.”

“Siemens is the market leader for LRV production in North America,with half the market share for those currently being built,” the company said. “Additionally,Siemens manufactured one-third of the cars currently in use in 13 cities,including Denver, Charlotte, San Diego, and Portland.”  Siemens also announced last month thatit would lead the consortium involved in the $321 million upgrade of the PortAuthority of New York and New Jersey’s PATH rapid transit system’s signalingand train control system with CBTC (communications-based train control).