First engine installed in Miami's Brightline locomotive
The Cummins QSK95 engine weighs 31,000 pounds. Installation took approximately six hours during which the engine was lowered into the locomotive by an overhead crane.
Miami’s Brightline is celebrating another milestone in the building of its trains as the engine was installed into its first diesel-electric locomotive at the Siemens manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. where the trains are being built. The Cummins QSK95 engine weighs 31,000 pounds. Installation took approximately six hours during which the engine was lowered into the locomotive by an overhead crane.
The fuel-efficient Cummins diesel engine, built in the heart of Indiana, will power the locomotive with 16 cylinders pumping up to 4,000 horsepower for optimum reliability and consistency. The lightweight engine is certified to meet the ultra-low emissions required by EPA Tier 4 standards, with additional benefits including reduced noise and the lowest fuel consumption.
Ad Loading...
Built as integrated trainsets, Brightline’s trains are comprised of two locomotives and four high quality stainless steel passenger cars. The trains can be extended to include up to 10 passenger cars as the system and ridership grows. The integration improves ride quality and makes for a much quieter ride. There will be a bright yellow locomotive on each end for high reliability. The locomotives will also feature an ergonomic cab design for the train’s engineers.
The 60-acre Siemens rail manufacturing plant is home to nearly 1,000 highly-skilled employees and sources up to 80% of its energy from two megawatts of solar energy. The plant recently completed a 125,000 square-foot expansion to help accommodate its growing production needs, including the manufacturing of Brightline’s trains.
Siemens has also developed a robust and diverse base of U.S. rail suppliers to support the next-generation of rail manufacturing for Brightline including components from more than 40 suppliers across 20-plus states with additional suppliers still being added. The company will also be performing maintenance on the Brightline trainsets, supporting full-time employment for 36 Siemens alongside 40 Brightline employees at Brightline’s maintenance facility in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The first completed trainset is expected to be delivered to Brightline later this year. Vertical construction is well underway on Brightline’s train stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach with service scheduled to begin in mid-2017.
Operation Lifesaver awarded $220,200 in grants to 12 states to support rail safety campaigns focused on grade crossing awareness and trespass prevention.
The survey showed that commute trips still make up the majority of ridership, with most riders boarding 2 to 3 days a week, reflecting hybrid work schedules. Two-thirds of Caltrain riders have access to a car, while 37% of Caltrain riders are considered low-income.
Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
In this Consultant Roundtable, Carmen C. Cham shares insights on how agencies can create spaces that are intuitive, connected and built for long-term impact.
The Red Line Extension Project will provide the Far South Side of Chicago with rapid rail transit for the first time by extending the Red Line by 5.5 miles from 95th Street to 130th Street, including the construction of four new Red Line stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan, and 130th streets.
The Siemens CBTC System, Trainguard MT, in compliance with New York Subway Interoperability Interface Specifications, enables trains to run as close as 90 seconds apart, using next-generation signaling and continuous communication to keep operations moving seamlessly.
While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
