FRA and Midwestern states reach cooperative agreement for joint equipment purchase

Today, U.S. Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Illinois and California (as the lead states) have reached cooperative agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration to begin a multi-state procurement of passenger rail equipment for corridors in California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon and Washington State.

For the Midwest, this HSIPR program funding obligation is $ 268,201,084, and encompasses the purchase of 48 passenger rail cars and 7 locomotives for 8 corridors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri. These new cars and locomotives will be compliant with standards for equipment that can travel at speeds up to 125 mph established pursuant to Section 305 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The new equipment replaces aging and obsolete Amtrak equipment with new bi-level cars that add capacity to help accommodate projected increases in ridership, improve operational reliability, reduce operating costs, achieve a state of good repair, and promote standardization of rolling stock.

During his presentation at MIPRC's June meeting, FRA Administrator Joe Szabo explained that the states and the FRA are working to consolidate all the equipment awards into a single, large order – which will produce economies of scale, spur domestic manufacturing and create jobs.

Congratulations to all our states on this significant achievement!

The award was announced in May, and the states and FRA have been working diligently to secure the agreements necessary to obligate the funding. A cumulative list of all the HSIPR funding awarded to Midwestern states can be viewed here.

Read U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s announcement.