Siemens ACS-64 explained

Siemens ACS-64
Powertype:Electric
Builder:Siemens Mobility
Ordernumber:Amtrak: 70
SEPTA: 15 (option for 3 additional)
Builddate:Amtrak: 2012–2016
SEPTA: 2015–2018
Trucks:Siemens model SF4
Wheelbase:9.9m (32.5feet)
(bogie center distance)
Wheeldiameter:1117mm (new)
1041mm (worn)
Minimumcurve:76m (249feet)
Length:20320mm
Width:2984mm
Height:3810mm (excluding pantograph)
Axleload:54250lb
Weightondrivers:100%
Headendpower:1340order=flipNaNorder=flip 3-phase, 60 Hz, 480 VAC, 1,000 kVA
Transmission:Pinion Hollow Shaft Drive w/ Partially Suspended Gearboxes
Multipleworking:Yes
Factorofadhesion:2.99 (33.4%)
Locobrakeforce:150kN, 5000order=flipNaNorder=flip Maximum[1]
Operator:Amtrak, SEPTA
Nicknames:Sprinters
Deliverydate:2013-2018
Firstrundate:February 7, 2014 with Amtrak
Maxspeed:125sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 Service
135sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 Design[2]
Locoweight:215537lb
Electricsystem:Overhead line
Collectionmethod:Pantograph
Tractionmotors:3-phase, AC, fully suspended, Siemens built (Norwood, Ohio)
Poweroutput:6400abbr=onNaNabbr=on Maximum (short-time)
5000abbr=onNaNabbr=on Continuous
Tractiveeffort:Starting:
320kN
Short-time:
270kN @ 53.5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2
115kN @ 125sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2
Continuous:
282kN @ 40sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2
89kN @ 125sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2
Safety:FRA standards
ACSES II
Locobrakes:Regenerative braking, NYAB Electro-Pneumatic Cheek Mounted Disk Brakes
Trainbrakes:Electro-pneumatic[3]
Notes:Sources:[4] except where noted
Aarwheels:B-B
Uicclass:Bo'Bo'

The Siemens ACS-64, or Amtrak Cities Sprinter, is an electric locomotive designed by Siemens Mobility for use on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the Keystone Corridor in the northeastern United States. The design was based on locomotives Siemens created for use in Europe and Asia, but with changes to comply with American standards. The ACS-64 is built at the Siemens factory in Florin, California, located outside of Sacramento.

The first 70 locomotives were built for Amtrak to replace the railroad's fleet of aging AEM-7 and unreliable HHP-8 locomotives. The first ACS-64 entered service in February 2014 and deliveries continued until August 2016.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Southeastern Pennsylvania operates a fleet of 15 ACS-64s since August 2018, on the agency's Regional Rail Lines.

Design

The design is based on the EuroSprinter and the Vectron platforms, which Siemens sells in Europe and Asia.[5] Significant structural changes to the design were made to comply with American crashworthiness requirements, including the addition of crumple zones and anti-climbing features as well as structural strengthening of the cab, resulting in a heavier locomotive than the previous models.[6] [7] The body is a monocoque structure with integral frames and sidewalls.

The locomotives are able to operate from the,, and power supplies used on the Northeast Corridor, and have a maximum power of 6400kW.[5] The locomotives are designed to be capable of accelerating 18 Amfleet cars to maximum speeds as high as on the Northeast Corridor in a little over eight minutes,[8] with trains of eight Amfleets taking two and a half minutes to reach the same speed.[9] They had advanced safety systems, including specialized couplers designed to keep trains from rolling over, jackknifing, or derailing during a collision.[10] Additionally, the new locomotives are more energy-efficient than those that they replace, and lack dynamic braking grids in favor of 100% regenerative braking, depending on grid receptiveness. Energy generated from the brake may also be used to meet HEP needs, further reducing current draw from the grid.

Each locomotive has two electrical converter units with three IGBT based, water cooled output inverters per converter. Two of the inverters power the traction motors; the third unit supplies head-end and auxiliary power. The HEP/auxiliary inverters are dual-redundant and identical (rated 1000abbr=onNaNabbr=on), allowing the locomotive to remain in service should one inverter fail en route. The locomotive bogies are fabricated steel designs, with low-lying traction links and center pivot pin. The traction motors are frame-mounted, with torque transmitted via a hollow shaft drive. Locomotive braking is facilitated by cheek mounted disc brakes on each wheel.

The locomotives are compliant with the "Buy America Act" and were assembled at the Siemens factory in Florin, California, with traction and electrical equipment being manufactured at Siemens facilities in Norcross and Alpharetta, Georgia. Traction inverters were manufactured in Alpharetta, and the traction motors and gear units were manufactured in Norwood, Ohio.

Amtrak

Procurement

In October 2010, Amtrak ordered 70 locomotives at a cost of US$466 million, to be delivered beginning in February 2013. The order was the second part of Amtrak's company-wide fleet-replacement program, after an order for 130 Viewliner II passenger cars was placed in July 2010. On June 30, 2011, US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced that Amtrak had received a $562.9 million loan from the federal government's Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program for the new locomotives.[11] The additional funding over and above the $466 million will cover capital spare parts and facility improvements to accommodate the ACS-64s.

Amtrak and Siemens Mobility unveiled the first three completed locomotives on May 13, 2013. They were tested during the summer of 2013: 600 and 601 at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado, and No. 602 on the NEC.[12] [13]

On February 6, 2014, then-Vice President Joe Biden visited 30th Street Station in Philadelphia to tour ACS-64 #600. In his subsequent remarks he stressed the importance of infrastructure investment as well as the important role Amtrak's new locomotives will play in serving the critical artery of the Northeast Corridor.[14]

Amtrak and Siemens celebrated the completion of the last ACS-64, No. 670, in Florin, California, on June 2, 2016.[15] The celebration concluded with unit No. 670 being towed by Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman's train bound for Washington, D.C. Locomotive No. 670 entered service in August 2016, completing the acceptance of the Amtrak order.[16]

Service

Unit 600 entered service on February 7, 2014, on Northeast Regional train 171 from Boston to Washington, D.C.[17] As the new locomotives entered service, they gradually displaced the electric locomotives that Amtrak had previously operated. The extra six ACS-64 units were to be used to increase the number of locomotives available for use at any point, and to add more frequent service in the future.[18] The final unit, #670, was delivered from Siemens on June 2, 2016,[15] and entered revenue service in August of the same year.

SEPTA

In May 2015, SEPTA (Philadelphia's mass-transit authority) approved an initial order for 13 ACS-64 locomotives for commuter service to replace its 7 AEM-7 and single ALP-44 locomotives on push-pull express trains, with an option for an additional five locomotives to be added to the order. On November 11, 2015, Siemens announced that it was awarded the $118 million contract for the initial 13 locomotives.[19] [20] The total contract value, including the option for additional locomotives, is worth $154 million.[21] [22] [23]

On February 29, 2016, Amtrak unit 664 began test runs on SEPTA Regional Rail branches to test the height of the locomotives on SEPTA territory, and to ensure clearance through the Center City Tunnel.[24] After testing the unit on most of SEPTA's lines, it was returned to Amtrak on March 21, 2016, for completion of its acceptance testing.[25] From July 2016 until April 2017, SEPTA leased several ACS-64 units to pull five Amfleet cars and several MARC Train sets as emergency rolling stock after all Silverliner V cars were temporarily pulled from service.[26]

SEPTA's first ACS-64 was delivered on December 14, 2017, by which time SEPTA had increased its order to 15 locomotives.[27] [28] [29] The first unit entered service on the Paoli/Thorndale Line on July 11, 2018.[30]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACS-64 Info Graphic and Fact Sheet . Siemens . March 10, 2018 . March 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081241/http://preview.thenewsmarket.com/Previews/SIMS/DocumentAssets/284356_v2.pdf . live .
  2. Web site: Siemens AG bags $466-mn order from US railroad company Amtrak . October 29, 2010 . domain-b.com . November 4, 2013 . December 26, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131226203715/http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_s/Siemens/20101029_amtrak_oneView.html . live .
  3. Web site: PRIIA Specifications for single level cars . February 15, 2011 . November 4, 2013 . Amtrak . Amtrak . April 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120417042237/http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/PRIIA%20305%20DocSpec%20and%20other%20NGEC%20Documents/PRIIA%20Single%20Level%20Spec%20305%20003%20Approved%20Initial%20Release.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: Amtrak City Sprinter Class ACS64 Electric Locomotive For Amtrak's North East Corridor (NEC) High Speed Passenger Service . Siemens AG Infrastructure & Cities Sector Rail Systems Division . December 24, 2013 . February 13, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140213055319/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/global/SiteCollectionDocuments/en/rail-solutions/locomotives/customspecific-solutions/amtrak-acs64-en.pdf . dead .
  5. Siemens breaks into the U.S. long-distance passenger rail market . October 29, 2010 . October 30, 2010 . Siemens . November 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101104213645/http://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/pressemitteilungen/2010/mobility/IMO201010001e.pdf . live .
  6. Amtrak orders Siemens 200 km/h Cities Sprinter locomotives . October 30, 2010 . . October 29, 2010 . November 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101101100749/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/amtrak-orders-siemens-200-kmh-cities-sprinter-locomotives.html . live .
  7. Latour . Michael . September 2011 . A new face in the Northeast Corridor . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704133706/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/66187942/new-face-northeast-corridor . dead . 2015-07-04 . . 167 . 9.
  8. Railway Age. June 2011. Amtrak ACS-64: Speed, power, efficiency. Michael Latour. June 11, 2011. April 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120426073727/http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sb/ra0611/#/48. dead.
  9. Web site: In-cab video of 601 + 8 Amfleets performing an acceleration test at Pueblo, CO . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/vJMhKgEnnNc . 2021-12-21 . live. August 1, 2013 . Youtube.com.
  10. October 29, 2010 . Amtrak orders 70 new electric locomotives from Siemens . Trains . October 30, 2010 . November 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191129235145/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2010/10/amtrak-orders-70-new-electric-locomotives-from-siemens . dead .
  11. Web site: Amtrak receives $562.9m loan to purchase 70 locomotives for Northeast Corridor . June 30, 2011 . Rail.co . https://web.archive.org/web/20120320215443/http://www.rail.co/2011/06/30/amtrak-receives-562-9m-loan-to-purchase-70-locomotives-for-northeast-corridor/ . March 20, 2012 . live . July 1, 2011.
  12. Web site: Siemens Provides First Look at New Amtrak Locomotives . Siemens USA . Synaptic Digital . November 4, 2013 . March 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309201625/http://inr.synapticdigital.com/siemens/NewAmtrakCars/ . dead .
  13. New Amtrak Locomotives Advancing in Rigorous Testing Program . July 29, 2013 . Amtrak . March 10, 2018 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517170326/https://media.amtrak.com/2013/07/new-amtrak-locomotives-advancing-in-rigorous-testing-program/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Matheson, Kathy. Biden stresses infrastructure investment in Philly. February 6, 2014. Associated Press. February 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182350/http://www.wpxi.com/ap/ap/transportation/biden-visiting-philly-to-unveil-new-amtrak-engine/ndFXG/. February 21, 2014. dead.
  15. News: Siemens completes 70th ACS-64 locomotive for Amtrak . Progressive Railroading . June 2, 2016 . June 3, 2016 . June 6, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160606045536/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Siemens-completes-70th-ACS64-locomotive-for-Amtrak--48437? . live .
  16. ACS-64 Locomotives Usher in New Era of Mobility on Northeast Corridor . August 2016 . Amtrak . All Aboard: The Official Blog of Amtrak . August 9, 2016 . September 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160920182354/http://blog.amtrak.com/2016/08/new-acs-64-locomotives-powered-northeast/ . live .
  17. New Amtrak Locomotives Ready for Service and Set to Power Northeast Economy . Amtrak . February 6, 2014 . March 10, 2018 . February 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210227154224/https://media.amtrak.com/2014/02/new-amtrak-locomotives-ready-for-service-and-set-to-power-northeast-economy/ . dead .
  18. Web site: Amtrak contracts Siemens to supply 70 electric locomotives . October 29, 2010 . Progressive Railroading . October 29, 2010.
  19. Web site: Siemens to build new locomotives for SEPTA. Worrell. Carolina. November 11, 2015. www.railwayage.com. November 12, 2015. November 14, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151114040410/http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/mechanical/locomotives/siemens-to-build-new-locomotives-for-septa.html?channel=35. live.
  20. Web site: Siemens to build 13 electric locomotives for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Siemens USA. November 11, 2015. November 12, 2015. July 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180712054501/http://news.usa.siemens.biz/press-release/mobility/siemens-build-13-electric-locomotives-southeastern-pennsylvania-transportatio. live.
  21. News: SEPTA Is Buying 13 New Locomotives for $113 Million. Dan. McQuade. November 11, 2015. Philadelphia Magazine. December 6, 2017. en-US. December 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171207142951/http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/11/11/septa-locomotives/. live.
  22. News: SEPTA plans to spend $154 million on new locomotives . . May 27, 2015 . May 29, 2015 . Nussbaum, Paul . May 28, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150528062300/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20150528_SEPTA_plans_to_spend__154_million_on_new_locomotives.html . live .
  23. Web site: May 2015 Special Agenda . May 2015 . Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority . July 3, 2015 . June 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618143722/http://www.septa.org/about/board/pdf/agenda-special-5-2015.pdf . dead .
  24. News: SEPTA testing an ACS-64 in March . Trains News Wire . March 1, 2016 . subscription . July 20, 2016 . August 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160817033338/http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2016/03/01-septa-acs-64 . live .
  25. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160411213722/http://www.trainweb.org/phillynrhs/RPOTW160327.html . Railfan Pictures of the Week - 3/27/2016 . March 27, 2016 . The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society . April 11, 2016.
  26. News: SEPTA to Add 1,700 Regional Rail Seats Starting Monday . Philadelphia Magazine . July 8, 2016 . Sandy . Smith . July 19, 2016 . July 22, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160722124057/http://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/07/08/septa-schedule-additional-trains/ . live .
  27. Web site: Siemens delivers new locomotives to Baltimore, Philadelphia agencies. December 18, 2017. Progressive Railroading. March 12, 2018. December 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222112217/http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mechanical/news/Siemens-delivers-new-locomotives-to-Baltimore-Philadelphia-agencies--53509. live.
  28. Web site: Siemens ships first ACS-64 locomotive for SEPTA. December 7, 2017. Railway Age. March 12, 2018. July 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711204347/https://www.railwayage.com/news/siemens-ships-first-acs-64-locomotive-for-septa/. live.
  29. Web site: SEPTA's first new electric locomotive has pulled into Philly. December 15, 2017. Curbed Philadelphia. January 30, 2018. April 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422114938/https://philly.curbed.com/2017/12/15/16780354/septa-electric-trains-launch. live.
  30. News: SEPTA's new Regional Rail locomotive makes debut . . July 11, 2018 . Joseph A. . Gambardello . July 12, 2018 . July 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180711234119/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/septa-regional-rail-new-locomotive-acs-64-siemens-20180711.html . live .

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