Passenger Trains > SEPTA to buy 13 ACS-64s

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20150528_SEPTA_plans_to_spend__154_million_on_new_locomotives.html

Breaking news. Looks like good business for Siemens - perhaps other agencies could look at an ACS-64 purchase?

That's a lot of power.  I wonder if they've decided to move away from the MU preference?

For what?

Amfleeter Wrote:
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> http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportati
> on/20150528_SEPTA_plans_to_spend__154_million_on_n
> ew_locomotives.html
>
> Breaking news. Looks like good business for
> Siemens - perhaps other agencies could look at an
> ACS-64 purchase?

There is a limited market for electric locomotives even in the Northeast Corridor. The only other agencies that might be interested are -

MARC - MARC is planning on getting rid of it HHP's account high Amtrak electric charges and the fact that only one of it's three lines is electrified.
NJT - Nope. NJT is firmly in the Bombardier camp and has no plans to replace it's ALP46's and APL45's with ACS64's.
ConDot - Unlikely unless Siemens can find a way to equip the ACS64's with 3rd rail shoes. All those brand new M8's are doing a fine job for now.
Shore Line East - SLE is supposed to get M8's once they figure out how to platform one at New London.
MBTA - Like MARC only one line of it's system is electrified so it's not worth it to have a fleet of locomotives for one line.
CalTrans - Has indicated they want to use EMU's for it SF to San Jose line.
GO - Probably is the only other place Siemens might make a sale. GO recently announced a plan for system wide electrification. As GO uses locomotive hauled trains the ACS64 would work for them. Of course this is in Bombardiers back yard so I'm guessing GO would be pushed towards ALP46's.
 

> MARC - MARC is planning on getting rid of it HHP's account high Amtrak electric charges...

Can someone elaborate on this point. 

MBTA has EIS clearance for a new line on the south side only if it is electrified. So the story at MBTA might change going forward.

The Montreal commuter authority just acquired ALP45DMs as part of the larger NJ Transit offer, so they're off the table, too.

This could be an explanation for why Amtrak ordered more ACS-64s than they really need (and why SEPTA is doing likewise).

They don't want to be caught short, as was Amtrak with the AEM-7.  When it came time to reorder,
the last time, EMD was happy to fulfill the order but carbody builder Budd was out of the business. 
The last orders of AEM-7...MARC, SEPTA, Amtrak...had to be put into carbodies imported from Austria,
which increased the cost substantially.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/15 16:18 by GenePoon.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> That's a lot of power.  I wonder if they've
> decided to move away from the MU preference?

I think they're looking at mulit-level coaches, like NJT.

From the article referenced above:

"In addition to the new locomotives, SEPTA will buy 525 hybrid buses over five years. And it will soon begin the process of procuring 45 bi-level railcars to increase capacity on the Regional Rail lines."

Also the contract has an option for five more units. I would say it sounds like SEPTA plans on retaining the single level fleet and using extra power to add capacity.

Cheers,
Nick

Posted from iPhone

ExconR14 Wrote:
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> For what?

that's for sure! SEPTA has budget issues all the time and we are lucky the express trains with electric locos operate at all! SEPTA already has their next generation of silver liners on the property.... 

Maybe they are looking to lease or buy some NJT surplus comet cars? That's happened before. If NJT was smart, they'd lease the cars cars to help with their budget woes - if that be the case. 

How many train sets operate on a given day with electric locos on SEPTA - Trenton Express on NEC, Main Line Express on Harrisburg Line, Express on the Norristown Line (?) Express on doylestown Line (?).......anything else on the ex-Reading or ex-PRR lines? There's likely another express on the Main Line during rush hour.....

SEPTA often says how they want to get rid of the push-pull trains.....now to buy seven electric locos, but are there enough comet cars or do they lease from NJT and place where? 

ExconR14 Wrote:
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> For what?

Restoration of service to Quakertown, Reading and Bethlehem, PA, of course!   ; )

If I recall correctly, service to King of Prussia is expected to be powered
by light rail?

/Mitch

It's the maintenace of the shop queens..
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3535071,page=2


ctillnc Wrote:
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> > MARC - MARC is planning on getting rid of it
> HHP's account high Amtrak electric charges...
>
> Can someone elaborate on this point. 

Mgoldman Wrote:

> If I recall correctly, service to King of Prussia
> is expected to be powered
> by light rail?

Yes, a branch of the Norristown High Speed Line.

This is why public transit funding has a bad rap in this country.  Not only is Push-pull is unsuited for SEPTA's operations, there is about 15 years left on the AEM-7 fleet SEPTA already has not to mention second hand options in the form of ALP44's and AEM-7ACs.  If Harrisburg had kept the screws tight SEPTA would have found a way to make do with the AEM-7 fleet, but as soon as someone else is paying for it they are spending money like it is going out of style.  This article discusses NJT's dire budget condition prompting a 9% fare hike in 2015, but a few years ago there was more than enough money to buy all sorts of new rolling stock. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/nyregion/new-jersey-faces-a-transportation-funding-crisis-with-no-clear-solution.html

Can't wait until I have to pay for the new SEPTA push-pull fleet with higher fares.

> It's the maintenace of the shop queens..
Got it, thanks. I misunderstood the point to be that Amtrak charges too much for the electricity itself.

ctillnc Wrote:
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> > It's the maintenace of the shop queens..
> Got it, thanks. I misunderstood the point to be
> that Amtrak charges too much for the electricity
> itself.

It does.  That's why MARC runs so many diesels under wire.

Yes, 13 with an option for 5 more.  Price of $154M would indicate a unit price of $8.5M each, a far cry of the $6.6 million Amtrak paid for them.  Will be numbered 6401 and up and not sure about designation as ACS stands for "Amtrak Cities Sprinter." Hmmm......

phillytrainman Wrote:
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> Yes, 13 with an option for 5 more.  Price of
> $154M would indicate a unit price of $8.5M each, a
> far cry of the $6.6 million Amtrak paid for
> them.  Will be numbered 6401 and up and not sure
> about designation as ACS stands for "Amtrak Cities
> Sprinter." Hmmm......

SCS for SEPTA Cities Sprinters?

Jishnu Wrote:
> SCS for SEPTA Cities Sprinters?

How about SSJ: SEPTA Suburban Joggers?