Brightline announced that Siemens Mobility has been designated the preferred bidder to design and build the Brightline West high-speed trains that will provide services connecting Las Vegas and Southern California.
The contract will include a fleet of ten American Pioneer 220 (AP 220) train sets to be manufactured, delivered to Nevada and tested to support Brightline West’s timeline of initiating service in 2028.
The announcement came after a multi-year competitive procurement process conducted among multiple global competitors. The selection, which is subject to the conclusion of definitive agreements, is based on specific criteria that included price, manufacturing schedule, train performance (e.g. speed and travel time), ADA compliance, passenger amenities and total passenger capacity.
In addition, the criteria considered future interoperability with the California high-speed rail project. The trains will be built in accordance with all applicable “Buy America” requirements.
The contract includes a 30-year rolling stock maintenance contract that will be performed at Brightline West’s vehicle maintenance facility in Sloan, 29 km southwest of Las Vegas. At this site, teams will perform routine daily maintenance, as well as long-term overhauls and repairs. This will generate high-paying jobs performing train maintenance activities on a permanent basis.
The Brightline West high-speed trains will represent a new generation of innovative technology, featuring the latest in passenger experience, cutting-edge digital technology, and a revolutionary propulsion system, built specifically for the U.S. market.
These trains are an evolution of the proven Velaro platform, currently operating in Europe. The AP220 will introduce state-of-the-art technology through an American supply chain spurring the United States to establish a new industry rivaling countries that have had high-speed rail for decades. Siemens will establish a new facility to build the AP220 and will announce the location of America’s first true high-speed rail production centre when the contract is finalised.
The AP 220 will be the first true high-speed train sets to be built in America and are designed for operational speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. The propulsion system, lighter weight and aerodynamic shape makes it more efficient than other high-speed trains. The AP220 features an ultrawide carbody designed for unparalleled passenger comfort and designed to be the most accessible train on the market, exceeding ADA requirements and allowing passengers in wheelchairs to move with ease from car to car. The seven-car trains will carry between 434 – 450 passengers, depending on final configuration and can make the trip in less than two hours.
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