Amtrak. The company will replace 83 trains in the US by 2030

amtrak plan to spend $7.3 billion To change 83 passenger trainsSome are nearly half a century old, although most of the funding has yet to be approved by Congress.

Amtrak said on Wednesday that, under contract with the German manufacturer Siemens AG, aSome trains will be hybrid, capable of doing work on diesel fuel and electricity where cables are available. The new trains will replace the Amfleet, Metroliner and state equipment till 2024.

New engines and passenger cars will be built in a US factory in the Sacramento, Calif.

What will the new trains look like and which US lines will they be destined for?

The new trains will have more comfortable seats, better ventilation system, separate power outlets and USB ports, on-board WiFi and panoramic windows. Amtrak CEO William Flynn says: will pollute very little Compared to older trains when operating in diesel mode.

Trains will go to New York, New England, California, Northwest, Virginia and other lines. Railroad has option to buy additional 130 trains Siemens.

Siemens says that the first deliveries will take place in the Cascades Line in the northwest in 2024, with the remainder continuing through 2030. Construction will start in 2023. The trains will have one engine and around six to eight cars.

According to the statement, the contract will include a supply and service contract of equipment and long-term parts.

Flynn said Amtrak passenger numbers hit a record 32.4 million passengers in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic hit. He said the passenger volume is about 62% compared to before the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Amtrak used to operate about 310 trains a day, but now it is around 201. Flynn expects the schedule to be completely reset by September or October 2021.

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