RELATED: Agility Fuel, Cummins announce partnership, equity investment
Cummins ships first QSK95 engine for the rail market
The engine, rated at 4400 hp (3281 kW) will be delivered to Siemens® manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif., where it will be installed into a Charger® locomotive.


Cummins Inc. announced today that the first production 95-liter, 16-cylinder QSK95 engine built to a rail specification has been shipped.
The engine, rated at 4400 hp (3281 kW) will be delivered to Siemens® manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif., where it will be installed into a Charger® locomotive. The Charger — a diesel-electric passenger locomotive — will be put into service for a five-state, 35-unit initial order with the Departments of Transportation of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington. The Charger locomotives will also power the trainsets for All Aboard Florida.™
Capable of a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph), the QSK95 achieves the highest output of any 16-cylinder high-speed diesel. The combination of Cummins latest-generation Modular Common Rail Fuel System (MCRS) with quad-turbocharging allows the engine to deliver reduced noise and excellent response in a smaller footprint than medium-speed diesels traditionally used in locomotives. Integrated Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment makes the QSK95 capable of achieving the ultra-low emissions required of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions requirements.
"This is a very exciting and important time for passenger rail in North America," said Melina Kennedy, GM — Global Rail and Defense Business. "Cummins is pleased to partner with Siemens to bring innovative and dependable new technologies to market."
More Rail

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →
San Diego MTS Breaks Monthly Trolley Ridership Record
Agency officials said July’s ridership indicates MTS’s continued recovery from the pandemic.
Read More →
Report Examines NJ TRANSIT Reliability, Funding Challenges
The Garden State Initiative analysis examines the roles of Amtrak infrastructure, fleet management, and agency operations while recommending a more performance-based approach to improving reliability.
Read More →
Stadler, CapMetro Sign Long-Term Rail Fleet Support Agreement
Beginning in 2027, Stadler will provide on-site technical expertise, spare parts support, training, and obsolescence management to help extend the reliability and longevity of CapMetro’s GTW fleet.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CATS Gold Line Marks 5 Years of Service, 2.8M Passenger Trips
With a six-mile expansion planned, the Charlotte streetcar is positioned to connect more neighborhoods and major transit hubs across the region.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
Amtrak Begins Major Construction at New York’s Sunnyside Yard
The new maintenance facility will support Amtrak’s Airo trainsets while improving maintenance efficiency and turnaround times in New York.
Read More →
Chicago Leaders Unveil Plans for O’Hare Airport Express Train
The privately developed project would offer a 15-minute trip between downtown and O’Hare’s Terminal 2, with trains operating every 15 minutes on a dedicated track. The service would use battery-electric trains and three existing freight rail rights-of-way.
Read More →
OCTA Maps Out 30-Year Strategy to Protect Coastal Rail Corridor
The draft feasibility report identifies strategies to protect the coastal rail line for decades as the agency continues near-term stabilization and sand placement efforts.
Read More →