(Photo: Molly Riley / AP)
WASHINGTON – A Steuben County-based rail car factory operated by Alstom is expected to be awarded a $2.5 billion Amtrak contract, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Monday morning.
The contract is expected to sustain 400 jobs at Alstom’s Hornell facility and another 350 in other parts of New York, according to Schumer’s office.
“This contract will add a massive injection of economic energy and hundreds of good-paying jobs for the economically struggling Southern Tier,” Schumer said in a statement.
Schumer was expected to join a representative of Republican Rep. Tom Reed of Corning, local officials, Steuben County officials, economic development leaders and union officials in Hornell today for the announcement.
The rail cars will be used for Acela high-speed rail service on the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston.
The Amtrak board of directors is expected to give its approval Monday afternoon for negotiations with Alstom, which would be finalized by December.
The purchase depends on the U.S. Transportation Department's approval of financing through the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program.
The existing Acela trains were acquired in 1994 and are under leases that expire between 2021 and 2023. Acela passenger cars feature reclining seats, electrical outlets for cell phone charges and laptop computers and tables.
Heard this from "informed sources" at Amtrak as well last week.
"Sources" say they will be AGVs (articulated) with Pendolino tilting suspension.
AGVs are EMUs. The FRA will allow passengers in the front car?
Another article.
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-amtrak-is-set-to-select-hornells-alstom-as-part-of-25-billion-program-to-build-safer-next-generation-high-speed-trains-senator-says-project-will-create-750-jobs-including-400-direct-manufacturing-jobs-at-alstom-in-hornell-
NorthWest AGVs are EMUs. The FRA will allow passengers in the front car?
The proposed Tier 3 standards do for over 125 absent grade crossings and freight trains, ATK betting those proposed standards will become the regulation.
081552 Amtrak to award Alstom $2.5B contract BRIAN TUMULTY, btumulty@gannett.com 10:11 a.m. EDT September 21, 2015 (Photo: Molly Riley / AP) 2 CONNECT 9 TWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE WASHINGTON – A Steuben County-based rail car factory operated by Alstom is expected to be awarded a $2.5 billion Amtrak contract, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Monday morning. The contract is expected to sustain 400 jobs at Alstom’s Hornell facility and another 350 in other parts of New York, according to Schumer’s office. “This contract will add a massive injection of economic energy and hundreds of good-paying jobs for the economically struggling Southern Tier,” Schumer said in a statement. Schumer was expected to join a representative of Republican Rep. Tom Reed of Corning, local officials, Steuben County officials, economic development leaders and union officials in Hornell today for the announcement. The rail cars will be used for Acela high-speed rail service on the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston. The Amtrak board of directors is expected to give its approval Monday afternoon for negotiations with Alstom, which would be finalized by December. The purchase depends on the U.S. Transportation Department's approval of financing through the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program. The existing Acela trains were acquired in 1994 and are under leases that expire between 2021 and 2023. Acela passenger cars feature reclining seats, electrical outlets for cell phone charges and laptop computers and tables.
The Acela cars was not built in 1994, they was built 1999 to early 2001 period.
1994 was when Amtrak requested bids for the project. Alstom was selected in 1996 and the first revenue run was in 2000. The request for bids is probably where that 1994 date originated.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
They need to start planning or seeking funds for replacement of the Long Distance Fleet, IMHO.
Saltgrass Awarding this contract to Alstom is a travesty considering that company's propensity for corporate malfeasance and corruption. They are currently under investigation by the United States Attorney General and justice agencies of other countries for fraud and bribery on a grand international scale. Amtrak should in no way be aligned with this criminal organization, let alone providing them with $2.5 billion in business. Although no domestic companies have capabilities for manufacturing high speed trains there are several other European and Asian companies that can produce this equipment at a US facility. Alstom should not receive Federal funds for this project. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-23/alstom-s-mr-paris-paid-millions-in-bribes-u-s-says In addition, Alstom has overcharged Amtrak by adding markups of up to 2400% for materials and repairs over the course of several years according to Amtrak Inspector General's office. Congress needs to investigate this activity before consummating this contract for the Acela replacement. http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060015926
Award it to VW & GM, they are so squeeky clean! There isn't a large corporation that hasn't done something that the agrieved feature as being criminal.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Perhaps you should Google 'Alstom + fraud' and find a history of corruption dating back to the 90s when BNSF threw them out. You will not find the same from Talgo, Siemens, Bombardier or the Chinese or Japanese train builders. Alstom is basically a crime syndicate with a litany of bribery and fraud. Unlike GM and VW their's is a continuous history of unethical and illegal practices. Then again, save time by read the FBI summary.
https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/alstom-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-to-pay-772-million-criminal-penalty-to-resolve-foreign-bribery-charges
Railway Age says this announcement was very premature and that there are still 2 builders in the running.
Buslist Railway Age says this announcement was very premature and that there are still 2 builders in the running.
Schumer!
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Railway age article blasts Schummer.
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/blogs/william-vantuono/schumer-shoots-his-mouth-off—again.html?channel=00
For our legal eagles. Will it be no matter now who gets the contract that the other applicants will sue claiming high pressure political influence ? As well claim Amtrak did not complete due dilengence for best equipmen?
Might cause over a year's delay ?
We need to rethink our posts and conclusions. This link only states that Amtrak is only going into negoiation with Alstom. Have to claim that this poster did not read the release properly. MY bad.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/amtrak-selects-alstom-for-northeast-corridor-train-
contract.html
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