Feds award $336.2 million for next generation trains in California, Midwest

Written by jrood

California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri will receive $336.2 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to purchase next-generation, American-made trains that will run on rail corridors in those states. Previously awarded rail dollars bring the amount received by these five states and Washington State to $782 million for the purchase of 33 quick-acceleration locomotives and 120 bi-level passenger cars. California and Illinois reached cooperative agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to begin a multi-state procurement of equipment for passenger rail corridors in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon and Washington State. "Building a nationwide rail network is critical to America's long-term economic success," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. Trains will be designed to travel more than 110 mph along intercity passenger corridors. In the joint procurement process, states will leverage these federal investments, along with state matching dollars. State partners will also first issue a request for information and then a request for proposal to allow for an open and competitive process. The RFI is expected to be issued in late summer 2011.  

Tags: