U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Brightline West, and Siemens Mobility announced Horseheads, N.Y., will become home to North America’s first high-speed rail production facility.

The first-of-its-kind facility in the U.S. will produce the country’s first high-speed trains, the American Pioneer 220, which will operate on Brightline West’s Las Vegas to Southern California line.

Selected for its skilled workforce, industrial history, and ability to best meet the needs of Brightline West, Horseheads is located in the southern tier of New York state.

“This is an exciting time not only for us at Siemens Mobility, but for the rail industry as a whole,” said Michael Peter, CEO Siemens Mobility. “This new facility in Horseheads marks the beginning of a brand-new industry in the USA — bringing both high-speed rail production and some of the world’s most modern trains to the continent for the first time. Designed with the latest digital twin technology and leveraging world-class digital rail solutions, the New York-built American Pioneer 220s feature cutting-edge advancements, including a revolutionary gearless propulsion system that reduces energy consumption by 30% and allows it to climb effortlessly at steep grades.”

Siemens New York Facility

When fully operational, the new manufacturing facility will span nearly 300,000 square feet and create around 300 jobs — including electro-mechanical assemblers, quality management, quality control, industrial production and test engineers, project management, supply chain management, and logistics employees.

Siemens Mobility also has a memorandum of understanding in place with the International Association of Machinist for union representation at the new site.

Siemens brings more than two billion miles of experience across its more than 1,000 high-speed trains.

The company’s engineers designed the next generation of trains, the Siemens American Pioneer 220, featuring the latest digital technologies, including Railigent X, from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, unparalleled passenger experience, and safety features to meet FRA requirements.

Brightline’s Siemens Partnership

Brightline selected Siemens Mobility to build train sets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas and Southern California in under two hours.

The American Pioneer 220 will be the first true high-speed trainsets to be built in America.

Production in Horseheads will begin in 2026.

With an unmatched passenger experience, it is an ultrawide body train, designed to meet the needs of passengers today and into the future.

The new empty tube body concept results in the most accessible high-speed rail vehicle on the market, ensuring passengers in wheelchairs can seamlessly move from car to car throughout the entire trainset, exceeding ADA requirements.

With large, comfortable seats and high-speed internet connectivity, business commuters and leisure passengers alike will enjoy a comfortable ride as they drive by those sitting in automobile traffic on the freeway.

Furthermore, the “party-car” creates an exciting passenger experience, emblematic of its name. The first-of-its-kind lounge car will allow passengers to relax, enjoy a beverage and views of the desert along the commute.