Siemens was awarded a $118 million contract to build 13 electric locomotives, supply spare parts, and provide operation and maintenance training for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SETPA). The contract includes an option to deliver up to an additional five locomotives.

The modern electric locomotives will replace an aging locomotive fleet to support SEPTA’s efforts to expand capacity and provide more efficient and reliable service for its ridership along SEPTA’s regional rail lines.

"The purchase of these new locomotives are the first of several new vehicle purchases, which are part of SEPTA’s Building the Future program,” said SEPTA GM Jeff Knueppel. “We are looking forward their arrival to help provide faster and more reliable regional rail service for our rapidly growing ridership.”

The electric locomotives will be built at the Siemens rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. The plant, which has been in operation for nearly 30 years, sources up to 80% of its energy from two megawatts of solar energy and currently employs over 800 people. Siemens, along with more than 60 domestic suppliers, manufacturers and distributors in over 20 states, are part of a national community building these state-of-the-art electric locomotives.

The new locomotives are designed for improved reliability and easier maintenance to provide faster turn-around times and increased availability for service. A state-of-the-art microprocessor system performs self-diagnosis of all key systems, makes self-corrective actions and notifies the locomotive engineer.

In addition, there is a redundant system to ensure power is maintained to the passenger cars for heating, cooling, lighting and door operation amongst others. The locomotives meet the latest federal rail safety regulations, including crash energy management features. Furthermore, the locomotives energy-efficient use of regenerative braking feeds energy back into the power grid. The new vehicles are set to be delivered in early 2018.