Siemens ships first ACS-64 locomotive for SEPTA

Written by Keith 
image description

The first ACS-64 electric locomotive for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has left Siemens’ plant in Sacramento, Calif., bound for Philadelphia.

SEPTA’s chief press officer Andrew Busch told IRJ that the first locomotive began its journey across the United States last week.

SEPTA awarded Siemens a $118 million contract in 2015 to supply 13 ACS-64s to replace its eight AEM-7 and ALP-44 locomotives on Lansdale-Doylestown, Paoli-Thorndale, and Wilmington-Newark commuter services, and expand the electric locomotive fleet to meet additional ridership demand.

The ACS-64s will operate with SEPTA Regional Rail’s existing fleet of 36 Bombardier double-deck coaches as well as 45 new coaches ordered last year from CRRC Tangshan, which are due to be delivered from 2019 onwards.

SEPTA says it does not yet have a firm date for introduction of the ACS-64s, but the first units will enter service “sometime in early 2018.”

Last year SEPTA leased an Amtrak ACS-64 to test clearances on its branch lines and in Philadelphia’s Center City Tunnel.

Tags: , , , ,