The locomotives will operate on Northeast Regional trains at speeds up to 125 mph on the Northeast Corridor and on Keystone Service trains at speeds up to 110 mph in Pennsylvania. In addition, all long-distance trains operating on the NEC will be powered by the new locomotives.
They will be numbered in the 600-series, like the earlier GE E60CP and current Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8 passenger electric locomotives. However, sources at Amtrak have said the new locomotives may not be consecutively numbered.
Three locomotives were on display at the media event, Nos. 600-602. Two units, Nos. 600 and 601, will travel to Pueblo, Colo., for testing at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. test track. No. 602 will travel directly to the Northeast Corridor for testing. The locomotives are expected to leave Sacramento in about a month. Once the first units are certified, Siemens expects to deliver about 2 locomotives per month through 2016.
The Sacramento plant also assembles Siemens’ light rail vehicles for the North American market. In total, 69 plants in 23 states have a part in the production of the new locomotives.
