Some good news in the midst of the budget and debt ceiling battles. US DOT has announced that $336.2 million of the re-allocated stimulus funds has been obligated towards a combined total purchase of 120 bi-level coach cars and 25 diesel locomotives. US DOT press release at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/fra1611.html . This means the funding for the bi-level is locked in and the House Republicans can not simply rescind it. I wonder if the threat of further rescissions motivated the state DOTs and Amtrak to hurry up?
Selected paragraphs:
"U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri will receive $336.2 million to purchase next-generation, American-made trains that will run on rail corridors in those states. Previously awarded rail dollars bring the amount received by these five states and Washington State to $782 million for the purchase of 33 quick-acceleration locomotives and 120 bi-level passenger cars.
...
"
California and Illinois reached cooperative agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to begin a multi-state procurement of equipment for passenger rail corridors in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon and Washington State. Through a joint procurement process states will leverage these federal investments, along with state matching dollars, ensuring taxpayers receive the best possible deal while creating the necessary momentum to encourage manufacturers to build equipment in U.S. plants with American workers and suppliers."
"Trains will be designed to travel more than 110 mph along intercity passenger corridors, and meet standards developed by the state-led, Next Generation Equipment Committee. This will provide manufacturers with consistent specifications for all passenger trains in the United States, reducing costs for manufacturers and customers, while providing a boost to the railcar manufacturing industry. The state partners will now begin a joint procurement process, first issuing a request for information (RFI) and then a request for proposal (RFP) to allow for an open and competitive process. The RFI is expected to be issued in late summer 2011."
Since there is a fixed amount of money available, if the bi-level bids per unit come in lower due to price competition, one would hope that the states and Amtrak would get as many additional bi-levels as they can as they could put the additional cars to use.
Now, who would be likely to bid on the bi-levels, given the US manufacturing requirement?
Also, how many Superliner coach cars and Amfleets are in service in California and the mid-West routes? Depending on the terms of the deal with California, figure Amtrak would like to move the Superliner coaches to the LD fleet. And any extra Amfleet Is back to the east for extra capacity. And the Horizons get freed up for where ever Amtrak can put them to use.
Selected paragraphs:
"U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri will receive $336.2 million to purchase next-generation, American-made trains that will run on rail corridors in those states. Previously awarded rail dollars bring the amount received by these five states and Washington State to $782 million for the purchase of 33 quick-acceleration locomotives and 120 bi-level passenger cars.
...
"
California and Illinois reached cooperative agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to begin a multi-state procurement of equipment for passenger rail corridors in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon and Washington State. Through a joint procurement process states will leverage these federal investments, along with state matching dollars, ensuring taxpayers receive the best possible deal while creating the necessary momentum to encourage manufacturers to build equipment in U.S. plants with American workers and suppliers."
"Trains will be designed to travel more than 110 mph along intercity passenger corridors, and meet standards developed by the state-led, Next Generation Equipment Committee. This will provide manufacturers with consistent specifications for all passenger trains in the United States, reducing costs for manufacturers and customers, while providing a boost to the railcar manufacturing industry. The state partners will now begin a joint procurement process, first issuing a request for information (RFI) and then a request for proposal (RFP) to allow for an open and competitive process. The RFI is expected to be issued in late summer 2011."
Since there is a fixed amount of money available, if the bi-level bids per unit come in lower due to price competition, one would hope that the states and Amtrak would get as many additional bi-levels as they can as they could put the additional cars to use.
Now, who would be likely to bid on the bi-levels, given the US manufacturing requirement?
Also, how many Superliner coach cars and Amfleets are in service in California and the mid-West routes? Depending on the terms of the deal with California, figure Amtrak would like to move the Superliner coaches to the LD fleet. And any extra Amfleet Is back to the east for extra capacity. And the Horizons get freed up for where ever Amtrak can put them to use.
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