Two of 75 new Amtrak locomotives went into service Tuesday, the first of a series of cleaner, faster, and more fuel efficient locomotives made in the United States, Amtrak announced Tuesday.
The locomotives will be pulling the Amtrak Empire Builder train from Chicago to Seattle. An important part of Amtrak’s sustainability initiative, the locomotives will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by more than 89 percent and particulate matter by 95 percent. Amtrak said that the new locomotives will consume less fuel while reaching top speeds of up to 125 miles per hour.
“We take our commitment to sustainability seriously at Amtrak. We’re focused on being the solution to get people out of cars and planes and onto rail for greater emissions reductions, said Amtrak Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer George Hull in a brief ceremony at Chicago Union Station.
The locomotives were developed by a team from Amtrak and Siemens Mobility and were designed to pull heavier and longer trains traveling thousands of miles in a single trip. Hull said Amtrak is working with Siemens to order more locomotives to meet the railroad company’s needs. Locomotive 301 and 302 are in operation, with the remaining 73 locomotives expected to be delivered through 2024.
“From the first ACS-64 in 2014 to the latest Charger Locomotive, Amtrak is a leader in sustainable travel for Americans. And Siemens Mobility is a proud partner in its efforts. We are looking forward to seeing these Chargers safely transport millions of Americans across the nation, whether it be seeking new adventures or connecting to economic opportunity,” stated Michael Cahill, President of Rolling Stock, Siemens Mobility North America.
Paid for with $850 million in funding set aside when the order was placed in 2019, the new locomotives will replace Amtrak P40 and P42 locomotives, some of which have been in service for more than 25 years. The locomotives will be put in place on these services like Auto Train (suburban Washington to suburban Orlando, Fla.), California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco Bay), Capitol Limited (Washington to Chicago), and City of New Orleans (Chicago to New Orleans), among others.