Brightline West selects Siemens as preferred bidder to build high speed rail fleet

Brightline has designated Siemens Mobility (Siemens) the “preferred bidder” to build train sets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas and Southern California. 

The contract will include a fleet of ten “American Pioneer 220” (AP 220) train sets to be manufactured, delivered to Nevada and tested to support Brightline West’s timeline of initiating service in 2028. The seven-car trains will carry between 434-450 passengers, depending on final configuration.

This selection includes a 30-year rolling stock maintenance contract that will be performed at Brightline West’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility in Sloan, NV. At this site, crews will perform routine daily maintenance, as well as long-term overhauls and repairs.

The AP 220 will be the first true high-speed train sets to be built in America and are designed for operational speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. The propulsion system, lighter weight and aerodynamic shape makes it more efficient than other high-speed trains. The AP220 features an ultrawide carbody designed for passenger comfort and to be the most accessible train on the market, exceeding ADA requirements and allowing for guests in wheelchairs to move with ease from car to car. 

On April 22, 2024, Brightline West celebrated its groundbreaking. The 218-mile system will be constructed in the median of the I-15 and will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The $12 billion project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The rest of the project will be privately funded.

Brightline partnered with Siemens Mobility to develop the Venture series train sets, which debuted in 2018 on the company’s Florida system.

Source: Siemens