South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), the regional rail operator in South Florida, has ordered seven Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotives from Siemens Mobility as part of a program to modernize the fleet used by the Tri-Rail commuter rail service. The new locomotives are scheduled to enter service in 2029.
The order marks the first purchase of Siemens Charger locomotives for Tri-Rail and is intended to replace the current fleet of six EMD GP49 locomotives, which are at the end of their operational life cycle.
Access to MiamiCentral and service modernization
A key element of the purchase is that the new locomotives will allow full access for Tri-Rail trains to MiamiCentral station, which has specific technical and compliance requirements. This will expand the network’s service area and improve connectivity to downtown Miami.
Tri-Rail operates on a 73.5-mile (approximately 118 km) corridor between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, plus an additional 8-mile segment on the Florida East Coast (FEC) corridor required for access to MiamiCentral.
Performance and environmental compliance
Siemens Charger locomotives comply with the EPA Tier 4 standard and are presented by the manufacturer as the lowest-emission diesel-electric locomotives in North America. According to SFRTA, the new units will help increase the reliability of daily services and improve the passenger experience.
The purchase is funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the US government agency responsible for funding and overseeing public transportation.
According to the contracting authority, Siemens Mobility was the only manufacturer capable of meeting the project’s operational and regulatory requirements.
Production in the US
The locomotives will comply with the requirements of Buy America, the US legislative framework that requires the predominant use of components and production made in the United States for federally funded projects.
They will be built at the Siemens Mobility plant in Sacramento, California, an active manufacturing center for approximately 30 years, where more than 2,500 employees work.
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