Velaro D

This Siemens products seems to be very popular worldwide, the Eurostar company being the latest customer. Would it not make sense for Amtrak to replace the Bombardier/Alstom Acela sets with the Velaro Ds ? Especially considering they are using Siemen electric locomotives.

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobilit ... elaro.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobilit ... ere-en.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

frequentflyer wrote:This Siemens products seems to be very popular worldwide, the Eurostar company being the latest customer. Would it not make sense for Amtrak to replace the Bombardier/Alstom Acela sets with the Velaro Ds ? Especially considering they are using Siemen electric locomotives.

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobilit ... elaro.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobilit ... ere-en.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure Siemens would like Amtrak to consider the Velaro D, though Amtrak has been burned on MU trainsets before. As long as the ACS-64 works out and they maintain a good relationship with the folks at NRPC and the US Government, Siemens is definitely a front-runner for the Acela replacement.

Also, why the Velaro D as a base, as opposed to the Velaro RUS or Eurostar e320?

What is the differences within series? What sets the Eurostar version from the ICE?

I haven't read the invitation to bid documents, or other information on Amtrak/Califionia's requirements.
But with rumours of the FRA loosening up its requirements, re crash management,(or rather look at other options other than outright weight), how does that effect the bidding process?. would something like the Velaro be considered , based on the FRA requirements changing,(rumoured to be in 2015 )? .

What would be considered will depend upon the RFP California issues and what the various manufacturers reply to it. I doubt California will write specifications favoring one manufacture because the more that bid usually means more competition and eventually lower prices.

The Velaro D is the newest generation of the ICE / Velaro family. I doubt that any procurement would take a step back a few years for equipment that is not up to date with current technology. If Amtrak were to select Siemens to supply a HST to replace the Acela, Siemens would most likely offer something akin of what they did with the locomotive procurement: a product that incorporated the latest tech from their most recent European line up, built to FRA standards.

electricron wrote:What would be considered will depend upon the RFP California issues and what the various manufacturers reply to it. I doubt California will write specifications favoring one manufacture because the more that bid usually means more competition and eventually lower prices.

The joint RFP for the HSR trainsets has been issued. Checking the schedule in the publicly available RFP documents, the deadline for submissions of questions and exceptions is March 17, 2014 with the proposals due on May 16, 2014 (hard copies by May 17). Orals presentations from the offerors whose proposals passed review are to take place the week of September 8, although the further out the RFP schedule is, the more likely the schedule could slip.

Based on the specs in the sections of the RFP linked to on the Amtrak procurement portal site, the Siemens Velaro is an obvious candidate.

frequentflyer wrote:What is the differences within series? What sets the Eurostar version from the ICE?

They are pretty much the same, except from the paint and the interior (which of course depends on the operator). Other than that the e320 doesn't need German safety systems like PZB or LZB and not the German electricity systems for the German voltage. France, GB and Eurotunnel use TVM systems. The other difference is the length of the trainset. Eurostar trains have the full length of about 400m while the newer German ICE trains have half the length and can be paired up to one trainset.