Amtrak has formerly posted the RFI today for the Acela replacement HSR trainsets. The news release is here. The RFI is on the Amtrak Procurement Portal for those interested.
Excerpt:
An RFP issued by September? Ambituous. With an order placed during 2014? That would be impressive.
What are they asking for (from the Amtral procurement page)?
I will leave it to the moderators to decide whether this critical NEC development belongs in the Amtrak or the HSR forum.
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON – Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) are joining forces in the search for proven high-speed rail (HSR) train sets currently being manufactured and in commercial service that are capable of operating safely at speeds up to 220 mph on both Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) and on California’s developing HSR corridor.
Amtrak, in conjunction with California, is today formally issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to start the process. The partnership advances each of their respective HSR programs, and could create efficiencies by ordering trains of similar specifications and develop a U.S. standard for HSR train equipment that can be manufactured and supplied domestically and produced for the rest of the world. A Request for Proposal could be issued by September 2013 with an order placed during 2014.
An RFP issued by September? Ambituous. With an order placed during 2014? That would be impressive.
What are they asking for (from the Amtral procurement page)?
The objective of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gain additional understanding of the latest in high-speed trainset technology innovations and to explore the extent to which high-speed trainsets currently being manufactured could be used for Amtrak’s existing NEC and proposed Next Gen HSR services and on California’s proposed high-speed rail corridor. Of primary interest for this RFI are the following areas: Tilting Technology; Curving Performance, Truck Design; High Speed Performance; Car Width; Floor Height; Passenger Capacity; and the ability to meet required Trip Times. Information regarding these areas and others are included in Amtrak’s Performance Specification No. 1005 Summary (Performance Spec). Amtrak’s Performance Specification 1005 Summary and other supporting documentation will be provided to eligible Car Builders responding to this request.
I will leave it to the moderators to decide whether this critical NEC development belongs in the Amtrak or the HSR forum.