USA: The manufacturers bidding to supply rolling stock for the high-speed line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas have notified the US Federal Railway Administration (FRA).
If Siemens Mobility wins the tender, it will build the first two trains in Germany, with American personnel overseeing the process. The remaining eight trains, whose car bodies will be manufactured outside the USA, will be built at a plant in Nevada. Alstom is ready to assemble all ten trains at its plant in the city of Hornell, using the imported car bodies and braking systems.
After receiving this information from the manufacturers and the project operator, Brightline West, FRA has initiated a discussion on the possible nonavailability waiver of Buy America requirements for high-speed trains, signalling systems, switches, and firefighting systems. The law requires 100% localisation of rail projects funded by the government. FRA is responsible for enforcing the law and has itself earlier awarded a $3 bln grant to the project, so the Buy America Act is to be complied with.
The 418.5 km high-speed line will connect Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga, 60 km from Los Angeles. Trains will run every 45 minutes at an average speed of 185 km/h, with a top speed of 290 km/h, allowing passengers to travel the distance in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The line will take about four years to build.
At the end of August, another tender was announced in the USA. This time for high-speed rolling stock for the Merced-Bakersfield section, which is also under construction now. Six trains are expected to be purchased for the line by California High-Speed Rail Authority, and Siemens Mobility has already announced that it will offer the modified Velaro Novo high-speed train.
