Fwd: AMTRAK BUYING 130 NEW PASSENGER RAIL CARS

[Jarrod DellaChiesa]

80 non-revenue cars and non for the west coast...

- Jarrod

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Amtrak Media Relations" <MediaRe...@amtrak.com>
Date: Jul 23, 2010 11:36 AM
Subject: AMTRAK BUYING 130 NEW PASSENGER RAIL CARS
To: "Amtrak Media Relations" <MediaRe...@amtrak.com>

Amtrak Media Relations issued this news release this afternoon.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 23, 2010




ATK-10-101

Contact: Media Relations

202 906.3860




AMTRAK BUYing 130 NEW PASSENGER RAIL CARS
to support long-distance train service
$298.1 million contract creates 575 jobs in Elmira, N.Y.

WASHINGTON - Amtrak is implementing the first step in a long-term, comprehensive fleet renewal plan with the purchase of 130 new single-level rail cars to support its long-distance train services. The five-year, $298.1 million contract is being awarded to CAF USA which is creating 575 jobs to perform manufacturing and final assembly work at its plant in Elmira, N.Y. The first car is scheduled to roll off the assembly line in October 2012.
"This major equipment purchase demonstrates our strong belief in the future of intercity passenger rail in America and Amtrak's leading role in meeting this critical national transportation need," said President and CEO Joseph Boardman.
Thomas Carper, chairman of the Amtrak board of directors, added: "We are replacing and renewing our fleet to improve reliability of our operations, to meet passenger expectations for quality service and to be in a better position to handle the growing demand for more passenger rail service. Addressing Amtrak's equipment need is long overdue."
Boardman explained that the 130 single-level passenger rail cars are similar to the popular Viewliner model and includes 25 sleeping cars, 25 diners, 55 baggage cars and 25 baggage / dormitory cars for use primarily on long-distance trains. They will replace and supplement the existing fleet, improve financial and on-time performance, and foster a more modern, positive image of Amtrak. In addition, Amtrak can begin to retire some of its oldest cars still in service that date back to the 1940s and 1950s.
Passengers will experience many improvements with the new equipment including: modern interiors with better layouts; better lighting and more efficient air conditioning and
heating systems; additional outlets to power personal electronic devices; bicycle racks in the baggage cars; as well as improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
CAF USA along with its parent company, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles of Beasain, Spain, is an experienced rail car manufacturer to the U.S. and world markets. CAF USA will manufacture the stainless steel car shells and perform final assembly of the cars at its Elmira, N.Y., facility where it currently produces transit rail equipment for several U.S. transit systems.
"This is a very exciting and pivotal moment in the history of CAF USA. As we move to consolidate our presence in the US, we view this contract as merely the first in what we hope will be many opportunities we will have to partner with Amtrak. We look forward to combining our maximum effort and expertise with the leadership and vision that the current administration has shown where passenger rail is concerned in the U.S.," said Virginia Verdeja, CAF USA vice president.
The first year of the five-year contract will be paid for with $29.8 million from Amtrak's current revenues which are running above budget estimates due, in part, to ridership that is on a record-breaking pace. Amtrak will seek to fund subsequent years of the contract with other sources such as loans or direct Congressional appropriations.
Furthermore, this equipment purchase is just the first step in Amtrak's multiyear Fleet Strategy Plan<http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/Page/1241245669222/1237608345018> to replace its entire fleet of passenger rail cars and locomotives over the next 30 years and help support the growth of a domestic rail manufacturing industry. Amtrak is currently reviewing bids to replace many of the electric locomotives used along the Northeast Corridor and may make a contract award yet this summer.

About Amtrak
As the nation's intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company's history. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day-at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph)-to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the partner of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for several commuter rail agencies. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.

About CFA USA

CAF USA, Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of CAF S.A., a Spanish railway equipment manufacturer with over 100 years experience in designing and manufacturing all types of vehicles, from High-Speed to Light Rail, as well as overhauling, maintaining and financing projects, in summary providing solutions to all types of transportation challenges. CAF and its 12 subsidiaries constitute the CAF Group. CAF has maintained consistent growth for the last 15 years and is a financially sound company gradually establishing its position as one of the major players in the world's railway industry. CAF USA has a 12 year history and has secured four major contracts in the United States. CAF purchased a state of the art facility in Elmira Heights, New York in the year 2000 and has continuously invested to upgrade it during the last ten years.


# # #

[Merritt Mullen]

On Jul 23, 2010, at 3:04 PM, Jarrod DellaChiesa wrote:

80 non-revenue cars and non for the west coast...

- Jarrod

I am a West Coaster (California) and I, too, would like to see more Superliner Sleepers.  However, at least this order is for long-distance service trains and not the NEC.   And those diners and baggage cars are badly needed for the low-level long-distance service in the East.  I believe Amtrak is operating about 19 Heritage fleet diners (which are over 50 years old, I think), so the new order will replace those (and a few Amfleet cars that are being used as makeshift diners).

As for the 55 new baggage cars, they would be used system wide, both with the low-level consists and the Superliners.  Amtrak is currently operating about 50 heritage baggage cars system wide.

Maybe the next order will include new Superliner sleepers.

Merritt

[Ryan Stern]

Let's not make an east-west issue of it.  These cars will relieve the pressure being experienced by the system as a whole, and will enable Amtrak to continue providing the amenities (such as full-service dining and complimentary baggage handling) that separate train travel from other forms of long distance transportation.

National Association of Railroad Passengers Chairman Robert Stewart praised Amtrak's announcement, which the Association has been strongly advocating for:

“NARP is very excited about the announcement today—this is the first new order of equipment since the Acela was purchased for the Northeast Corridor in the late 1990’s.  This needs to be just the beginning of new cars for Amtrak.  New equipment is needed all across the country, which will allow Amtrak to improve reliability, increase capacity, and look at new opportunities for increased service.  NARP will continue to push for additional funding for more equipment for Amtrak.  We congratulate Amtrak on taking the first step.”

--
Ryan Stern
c. 310.435.6541
e. try...@mac.com

National Association of Railroad Passengers

Californians for High Speed Rail

On Jul 23, 2010, at 3:04 PM, Jarrod DellaChiesa wrote:

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[Howard Bingham]

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Overhauls of some Superliner I equipment is listed in the National
Section (Pages 87 & 94 and several between pages) of "Amtrak ARRA
Summaries by States" at the URL about 2/3 down the original
message.. This includes Superliner II Transition Sleepers,
Superliner Sightseer Lounges & Superliner I sleepers..

While not the desired NEW cars for western network trains, it is a
start and with the single levl NEW & overhauled cars, will be an improvement..

Not to be too political, but imagine what may have happened to Amtrak
funding if John McCain had been elected President..

Howard Bingham

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[Erik Griswold]

I will remind members of this list that the East Coast backbone passenger car (Amfleet I) is now reaching its 35th year, and are of course older than any of the Superliners.

As mentioned, these will provide baggage cars to the national system, and if documented properly, can show how increasing and modernizing the fleet leads to improved ridership and revenue.

As things stand, there is a severe lack of sleepers in the single-level fleet, which has led to dropping of a sleeper on the NEC Night Owl/Fast Mail (66/67).

We on the west coast, thanks in great part to state funding, have been lucky to get new rolling stock in the form of the California Cars/Surfliners and Talgo trainsets.  While we would all like to see the other states (especially those along the NEC) to start pulling their own weight, there is no need for the customer, who might be traveling on Amtrak for the first time, to suffer due to the lack of new equipment.  

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