FIVE new Siemens SC-44 ‘Charger’ locos have been ordered to operate ‘Coaster’ commuter rail services between San Diego and Oceanside, in southern California.
The new locos will be built in the Siemens factory in Sacramento, California, and delivered by June 2021 at a cost of $37million.
The order is being funded by the Californian state government.
Enjoy more Railway reading in the monthly magazine.
Click here to subscribe & save.
The new locos will replace five older EMD-design F40PH-2C locos rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen (now part of Wabtec) in 1994, and will enable ‘Coaster’ services to be expanded as the new locos are expected to be 16% more fuel efficient compared to the older ones.
In Northern California, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which runs the ‘Altamont Corridor Express’ (ACE) commuter service from San Jose to Stockton, has also ordered four SC-44 ‘Charger’ locos.
Plans are being developed to expand ACE services to serve Modesto and Sacramento which, if implemented, will require additional trains.
ACE currently operates services using six EMD-design F40PH-2C/3C locos.
Read more News and Features in the August issue of The RM – on sale now!