- Brightline Train. Photo: courtesy of Brightline.
Brightline, the future passenger rail service that will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, announced that its first locomotive has successfully completed initial track testing. The locomotive, equipped with a Cummins diesel-electric engine, was tested on a quarter mile long track at the Siemens manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. The company has now approved production for all locomotives currently being built by Siemens.
“The operation of the locomotive and its passing of the initial track testing has demonstrated Siemens’ engineering expertise and given us a high degree of confidence that the Brightline service will be exceptionally reliable,” stated Gene Skoropowski, Brightline's senior vice president of railroad operations. “Brightline will be the only passenger rail service in the country to have such dynamic and modern trains that will offer Americans a new and modern experience in train travel.”
In addition to running the diesel engine for the first time, approximately 45 areas were tested on the new locomotive, including the air and braking systems, locomotive doors, fire detection systems, audible warning devices, communication systems, and interior and exterior lighting. Empty and fully loaded weight verification as well as software installation for all systems was also tested. The static and dynamic testing of the locomotive was done over a three-week period.
Siemens will also be providing maintenance for the Brightline trains when they are in operation in Florida.
“Testing the advanced technology locomotives for Brightline is an extremely important milestone in our production process and helps ensure these trainsets are ready to provide safe and reliable service for future riders,” said Michael Cahill, president of Siemens Rolling Stock. “The successful on-site testing in Sacramento is truly a testament to the highly-skilled work being done by our engineers and plant employees that have worked tirelessly to design and manufacture these trainsets.”
Brightline’s trains will be comprised of two locomotives and four stainless steel passenger cars. There will be a bright yellow locomotive on each end, for high reliability and redundancy. The locomotives will also feature an ergonomic cab design for the train’s engineers.
The first completed trainset is expected to leave Sacramento and be delivered to Brightline at its West Palm Beach maintenance facility later this year. Brightline is scheduled to begin service in mid-2017.