On Thursday, US. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that Siemens would build a new high-speed railcar manufacturing hub in Upstate New York.
Schumer said the company would build high-speed trainsets, the American Pioneer 220, for Brightline West, that will be used on a high-speed line connecting Las Vegas to Southern California. The company plans to invest more than $60 million for a new 300,000 square foot facility in Horseheads, N.Y., and expects to create approximately 300 new jobs.
“America’s high-speed rail future will be built in Upstate NY. Siemens’ investment in Upstate NY will lay the foundation for the next chapter of our nation’s transportation future, making high-speed rail, what only a few years ago seemed like a dream, but because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is becoming a reality,” Schumer said. “Upstate New York is unmatched in rail car manufacturing capabilities, with a deep proud history pioneering the rail industry and a community that is excited to get to work building America’s future. Thanks to the trainsets that will be made right here in Chemung County, it’s full steam ahead for America’s high-speed rail future, powered by union workers here in Upstate NY.”
The AP 220 railcars are designed for operational speeds of up to 220 miles per hour, and the seven-car trains will carry up to 450 passengers. Once completed, the trip on the trains from Las Vegas to California will take about two hours. The Brightline project is a $12 billion private-public partnership with the Nevada Department of Transportation which broke ground earlier this year. Production at the facility is expected to begin in 2026.
“Bringing high-speed rail to America is no longer a dream, but a reality. With Leader Schumer, the Biden Administration and Brightline’s leadership we will transform the way Americans travel,” Marc Buncher, CEO Siemens Mobility North America, said. “Continuing our more than four-decade legacy of building trains in America, the American Pioneer 220s will be American-Made in New York by a team of more than 300 skilled team members.”