AAF selects Siemens USA for trainsets

[spuwho]

Per Orlando Sentinel:

Siemens to build All Aboard Florida trains
Paul Brinkmann

Siemens announced Thursday that All Aboard Florida has selected it to build locomotives and passenger coaches for the planned rail line from Orlando to Miami.

The trains will be built for maximum speed of 125 mph and will be assembled at Siemens' solar-powered rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento.

"Everyone is watching the development of this progressive operation with great interest, and we are extremely proud to be part of this effort," Michael Cahill, president of Siemens' Rail Systems Division in the U.S., said in a news release.

Per Orlando Business Journal:

Breaking: Siemens to build All Aboard Florida trains

All Aboard Florida on Sept. 11 announced it has selected Siemens to build locomotives and passenger cars for the $2.3 billion, 240-mile Miami-to-Orlando passenger rail.

All Aboard and Siemens have been working together "extensively" on the development and design of the passenger rail cars — the first such trains to be manufactured in the U.S. — and the trains are set to be built at Siemens' solar-power rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento, Calif., said a news release. The contract price was not disclosed.

All Aboard first plans to buy five train sets, with two diesel-electric locomotives for each and of four passenger cars, will serve the first phase of the rail system from downtown Miami to West Palm Beach, which will debut in 2016. That will then be expanded to seven coaches and an additional five train sets for Phase 2, from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport.

The privately funded rail system is set to create 1,800 temporary construction jobs, as well as another 100 or so permanent jobs in the Orlando area when it begins operations in 2017.

When completed, All Aboard Florida will be one of the highest speed train routes running in the U.S. at maximum speeds of up to 125 miles per hour, the release said.

"This is an exciting time for rail in America," said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens rail systems division in the U.S., in a prepared statement. "Intercity rail is an important lever to improve existing infrastructure challenges and bolster city and state economies, clearly something that All Aboard Florida will succeed at doing. Everyone is watching the development of this progressive operation with great interest, and we are extremely proud to be part of this effort."

Siemens USA Press Release with video interviews with execs on agreement is here:

http://inr.synapticdigital.com/siemens/AAF/

[spuwho]

The Siemens "Charger" locomotive for AAF is the same design that was recently ordered by several states to service their Amtrak routes.

Per Siemens:

The Departments of Transportation for the U.S. states of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington have awarded Siemens a contract for the delivery of 32 diesel-electric passenger locomotives. The contract is valued at approximately €165 million ($225 million). It includes a purchase option for another 225 locomotives which will be used for regional and mainline trains traveling at speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph). The 32 locomotives ordered are scheduled to be delivered between fall of 2016 and mid-2017. "For Siemens this order marks our entry into the U.S. diesel-electric locomotive market and strongly underscores our long-term vision for the U.S. passenger rail market", Jochen Eickholt, CEO of the Siemens Rail Systems Division, emphasized. The diesel-electric locomotives will be manufactured at the Siemens plant in Sacramento, California.



On December, 2013, the Illinois Department of Transportation, which is coordinating the order on behalf of California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington, announced its intention to move forward on the order with Siemens. The official Notice to Proceed has now been formally granted.

The Charger locomotives will be used exclusively in passenger service. The primary traction drive, a 4,400 hp-rated diesel engine with 16 cylinders and a cubic capacity of 95 liters, will be manufactured in the U.S. by Cummins Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. These modern locomotives are powerful and efficient and will deliver a cleaner ride, with better air quality and reduced emission rates ensuring compliance with the Federal Railroad's EPA Tier IV regulation required to be in place in 2015.

As one of the fastest, most efficient and safest modes of transportation, passenger rail is a key priority for U.S. infrastructure development. After all, Siemens wants to play a major role in this lucrative market and can already look back on first successes, for example the recent fanfare surrounding the new, advanced technology electric locomotives built in Sacramento for America's premier passenger rail operator, Amtrak. Just a few weeks ago U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx welcomed the first of 70 Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS-64) electric locomotives into passenger revenue service.

The Siemens diesel-electric passenger rail locomotives ordered will greatly help improve transportation on non-electrified railroads throughout the Midwest and the west coast. The contract includes 32 vehicles plus spare parts supply. In addition, there are options for an additional 75 locomotives for use in regional transportation and another 150 locomotives for mainline transportation.

The Charger locomotive reaches a tractive effort on starting of 290 kN with a weight of around 120 tons. The Cummins QSK95 diesel engine is 4,400 hp-rated. These U.S. locomotives are based technically on the Siemens Eurosprinter, Eurorunner and Vectron locomotive platforms which have been proven through several billion kilometers in both freight and passenger service. The components are procured and manufactured exclusively in the United States.

[spuwho]

Siemens put out a datasheet showing how extensive their presence is in Orlando.

(The fact they are releasing it tells you it played a role in the decision making)

Siemens in Orlando

Key Data

More than 4,800 employees in the state of Florida
•   More than 3,500 in Energy
•   More than 600 in Infrastructure & Cities
•   More than 400 in Corp & Affiliates
•   More than 200 in Industry
•   More than 50 in Healthcare

More than 3,800 Siemens employees in Orlando-Kissimmee metro area
•   More than 3,300 in Energy
•   Nearly 400 in Corp & Affiliates
•   More than 110 in Infrastructure & Cities
•   More than a dozen in Industry

Please note that employment figures are based on where employees work, not where they live.

Siemens Sectors and Divisions in Orlando

Siemens Energy
Orlando is the Americas headquarters for Siemens Energy, a sector of Siemens AG, and is also the global headquarters for Siemens Energy's Service Division.  Siemens Energy Divisions in Orlando include Fossil Power Generation, Energy Service and Wind Power.  The wind service training center established in Orlando in 2013 is one of four such Siemens wind service training centers in the world. 
Energy job functions in Orlando include Power Generation Equipment Engineering, Project Planning and Implementation, Sales and Marketing, Power Diagnostics for Energy Service Business and General Operations. 
Siemens Energy locations in Central Florida include East Orlando at the Quadrangle, labs in Casselberry; and South Orlando at the FAST Warehouse and the new wind service training center near Orlando International Airport

Siemens Energy & UCF
Siemens Energy works closely with the University of Central Florida (UCF).  The campus is in close proximity to Siemens Energy's Americas headquarters in East Orlando.  Siemens Energy supports UCF in a variety of areas including: research and development, recruiting and employment, training, and community relations.  Over the last decade, Siemens has donated over $3 million to UCF for research and development projects.  In addition, Siemens Energy's support of UCF Engineering has led to almost $3 million funded through the Florida High Tech Corridor Matching Grant Research Proposal Program. Established in 2008, research at the Siemens Energy Center (SEC), a partnership with UCF's College of Engineering and Computer Science, focuses on increasing the efficiency of power generation equipment; thus helping to conserve energy and reduce costs.  The turbine research conducted at the Siemens Energy Center helps position Central Florida as a leader in power generation and energy conversion, particularly in the advanced materials development, cooling concepts, heat transfer and combustion. The laboratory helps UCF train more engineers and strengthen a key sector of the Central Florida economy.

Siemens Infrastructure & Cities, Building Technologies
Winter Park, FL
Building Technologies (BT) provides energy and environmental solutions, building controls, electrical distribution equipment, fire safety and security systems solutions.  The 110 employees at BT's Orlando branch provide a full range of services and solutions to make buildings more comfortable, secure and environmentally friendly, as well as less costly to operate.
Job functions include Sales, Service, Construction, Engineering, and Finance.  The branch also has LEED certified employees and certified Energy Engineers.  In addition, location is licensed and UL certified to person fire alarm and security work.

Siemens Corporation, Global Shared Services North America, Siemens Real Estate
East Orlando, FL
As part of Siemens Corporation, Global Shared Services performs back-office functions for the company in the U.S.  This includes: accounting and finance, human resources, information technology and procurement and logistics.  Siemens Real Estate also has an operation in Orlando.

Siemens-Disney Alliance
Siemens VIP Center, Epcot, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Siemens and the Walt Disney Company entered into a 12-year strategic alliance in 2005, bringing together a premier global technology and infrastructure company and the world's leading family entertainment company.  The alliance includes Siemens' sponsorship of several shows and attractions, including "Spaceship Earth" – an Epcot icon – as well as Epcot's nightly fireworks program, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth".
Siemens is a provider of leading security solutions to Walt Disney World.  Nearly 90% of the resorts' fire and safety systems are provided by Siemens.  Siemens provides ride control automation systems at several of the park's attractions and shows.  Siemens also deploys a variety of infrastructure products and services across the resort covering, power distribution, climate control systems, electrical switchgear and fire/life safety systems.  Siemens also provides Industrial Ethernet solutions for Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios.


Siemens Veterans Initiatives in the City/Region
•   Over 300 veterans work at Siemens in the state of Florida, with more than 200 of those veterans in the Orlando area
•   Siemens committed to creating 50 new full-time jobs associated with the new wind service training center, and 49 have already been filled.  Close to 25% of these positions are currently held by military veterans.  Many of the unique logistical and technical skills, as well as the physicality and discipline, acquired during military service can be successfully transferred to this type of work.
•   Nationwide, over the last two years, Siemens has hired over 1,000 veterans and is an active participant in the White House Joining Forces initiative, as well as Still Serving Veterans to increase training and employment opportunities for returning service members.


About Siemens USA
Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure & cities sectors. For more than 165 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions.

With 362,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of approximately $100 billion in fiscal 2013. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $19.2 billion and employs approximately 52,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.  For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit www.usa.siemens.com

[thelakelander]

Hmm. Is there anyone out there that still believes they aren't moving forward with this project?

[SightseerLounge]

They are ready! Siemens wants't this to happen! There is too much money at stake! I didn't even know that Siemens had roots in Florida like that! This looks like the Jettrain but with more purpose! It is also what should have been done in the first place when it comes to the Florida Bullet Train!

[SightseerLounge]

Amtrak should just hop on the bandwagon and order about 200 long distance locomotives while the presses are hot! They already have ordered 70 electric locomotives from Siemens. The diesel-electrics should be a no brainer. 

[spuwho]

Just remember that they only ordered enough train sets to support a West Palm to Miami route.

I would expect the next order to be submitted when they get their RRIF loan.

The politics in the Treasure Coast area is getting thick.  The Coast Guard hearings are about to begin in 3 cities there.

AAF made mention that they have an alternative financing plan in the wings if the RRIF loan is denied or gets political tampering.

AAF opposition is starting to lawyer up and trying to hire lobbying support in DC. I think they have given up on Rick Scott as a political option. He pretty much sends all the requests to Ananth Prasad in FDOT.

Everyone is really anxious to see the environmental analysis on the West Palm to Cocoa section.

If it gets through the public comments intact then this will really pick up the pace.