US high-speed rail
HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The United States’ first high-speed rail production facility will reside in New York state, according to a joint announcement by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Brightline West, and Siemens Mobility today (Monday Sept. 9).
The press releases, provided to Trains.com News Wire, states that the new 300,000 sq ft. complex will be constructed in Horseheads at a $60 million investment, and will set the stage for the construction of 10 “American Pioneer 220” trainsets for Brightline West’s high-speed rail project between the Southern California region and Las Vegas. Siemens, in partnership with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), was selected as the “preferred bidder” to build the initial equipment in May [See “Siemens to build high speed trainsets…” News Wire. May 1, 2024].
“After months of relentless advocacy, I am proud to announce this massive 300 job first of its kind manufacturing facility for America is coming to Upstate NY,” said Leader Schumer. “Upstate New York is unmatched in rail car manufacturing capabilities, with a deep proud history pioneering the rail industry and a community that is excited to get to work building America’s future.”
“For the first time ever in the U.S., we will be manufacturing trains that will compete with the best in the world,” said Brightline CEO Michael Reininger.”Reaching speeds of over 200 mph, these trains will be marked by the latest innovations designed for the modern traveler and establishing a new benchmark in transportation.”
“With Leader Schumer, the Biden Administration and Brightline’s leadership we will transform the way Americans travel,” said Siemens Mobility North America CEA Marc Buncher. “Continuing our more than four-decade legacy of building trains in America, the American Pioneer 220s will be American-Made in New York by a team of more than 300 skilled team members.”
“This partnership is more than just a moment. It’s a new chapter for the future of rail transportation, with good union jobs creating lasting economic benefits for generations to come,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant.
Upon completion, production at the new facility is planned to commence beginning in 2026.
Siemens’ seats are as hard and unwelcoming to sit upon as concrete. Quiet Venture cars ruined by impossibly hard seating. Horrific.
Steven Aroesty: Good catch. I’m a native of Williamsport, knew the line well.
Hey Phil Mulligan,
I think you meant Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario (not Lake Erie) east of Rochester. Part of the Pennsy route is now a rail trail.
Horseheads is where the PRR Elmira Div. from Williamsport to Sodus Point on Lake Erie used trackage rights over the Erie Main Line. Horseheads is 4.6 miles West of Elmira.
The PRR telegraph code for Horseheads was “HO”. Does mean the new Siemens cars will be HO?
As far as I know Brightline West is a private company. If I am mistaken please let me know. As a private company , they have the right to choose their builder, after all it is their money. I am glad to see them built here. But, perhaps some of you would rather have them built in China???
No to China but I’d like to have Brightline get the choice rather than have the Senate Majority Leader dictate to them where it will be.
If memory serves, Brightline West put out a tender awhile back and had narrowed it down to Siemens. However, let it be known that Brightline West also got grants from Cali, Nevada and the USG to supplement their capital raise.
As for why Horseheads NY……it was well known that Siemens could not build such an order at their plant in California. It was also well known that the tax payer grants had massive made in USA clauses. Brightline West has embraced the political money while Brightline Florida has resisted it as needed. But whether it was a Siemens decision alone or anyone else on the business side had a say is unknown.
But lets face it Siemens HSR expertise is in Europe. New York’s Southern Tier is a lot closer to Germany. I am sure Sir Schumey knew it would present some interesting future bidding opportunities for the NEC or other routes in the future.
Don’t forget that Siemens has a large plant under construction here in North Carolina. Supposedly slated to build Venture cars and perhaps some of their transit offerings.
There are lots of places in the west or mid west where this plant could have been been sighted that would have made more sense for Brightline West than the State of New York. But if they want the cost of freight to be a major part of getting them to their final destination then I would imagine UP (or maybe BNSF) won’t mind getting that business west of Chicago, just like they have been doing for VIA trainsets for the last five years. Its only money, you know…
I don’t understand the constant set-up of new production facilities for what could very well be a one- off order. How many railcar production facilities have been opened in the US over the past 20 years, many of which have closed again. You can bet that if California HSR ever gets to the point of ordering trains, they will want them built in California, not New York.
Actually CA won’t care where they are built…and tenders for equipment designs and procurement has already been put out there by CAHSR.
And these trains will run at 200 mph other than on Brightline West at ah……….
So the Senate Majority Leader gets this project in his home state. Why am I not surprised.
Horseheads, New York? Really? This one is too easy.
Remember the Mad Magazine parody of the first Godfather movie? In the Mad Magazine comic, the Californian woke up with the other end of the horse in his bed. The comic’s voice-over was to the effect that, What do you expect for a Hollywood producer?
Amtrak management is the other end of the horse.
Chucky Schumer’s “months of relentless advocacy” also reminded me of Julia Roberts explaining why she was so exhausted after obtaining the witness statements in the film “Erin Brockovich.”
Amtrak might have buyer’s remorse after choosing Alstom to build their next generation of ‘Acela Express’.
The end result will be interesting. Siemens Chargers work just fine for Brightline but don’t for Amtrak. Alstom engines work fine in the EU, but they don’t for Amtrak. Siemens single level passenger cars work just fine for Brightline, but don’t for Amtrak.
There is a pattern forming.
Still waiting to hear on Alstom and Metra and the new bilevels. Those should be seeing the light in the next 6 months or so.