USA: The six-car train with the diesel locomotive Charger SC-44 has started operation on the 454 km Oakland–Bakersfield line.
Running in reverse is performed by the F40PH diesel locomotive by EMD (US) converted to a driving trailer with a luggage area. It will later be replaced with a dedicated driving trailer.
The stainless-steel coaches, manufactured at the Siemens plant in Sacramento, are designed to operate with a maximum speed of 200 km/h.
The first push-pull Siemens Venture train in California at the Fresno station. Source: Amtrak
In 2019, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) ordered seven trains (49 cars) worth $132 mln. The test operation was due to begin in 2020, but it did not start until December 2023. The rest of the trains are expected to enter service by the end of 2025.
The US and Canadian operators have ordered more than 900 Venture coaches in total, and Siemens Mobility is building a second production facility in the US to produce them.
