US: Siemens Mobility to Produce High-Speed Brightline West Trains in New York
This facility, representing a 60 million USD investment, will span nearly 300,000 square feet and create approximately 300 jobs.
This facility, representing a 60 million USD investment, will span nearly 300,000 square feet and create approximately 300 jobs.
It will produce the American Pioneer 220 trainsets for Brightline West, marking a significant step for US rail infrastructure.
Siemens’ investment will create jobs in various roles, including engineering, quality control, and supply chain management. The manufacturer will partner with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to staff the facility.
The Horseheads plant will manufacture America’s first high-speed trains, supporting Brightline West’s rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California.
The American Pioneer 220s will feature innovations like a gearless propulsion system, reducing energy consumption by 30% and allowing the trains to reach speeds over 300 km/h.
Michael Peter, CEO Siemens Mobility said:
“This is an exciting time not only for us at Siemens Mobility, but for the rail industry as a whole. This new facility in Horseheads, New York, marks the beginning of a brand-new industry in the USA – bringing both high-speed rail production and some of the world’s most modern trains to the continent for the first time.
“Designed with the latest digital twin technology and leveraging world-class digital rail solutions, the New York-built American Pioneer 220s feature cutting-edge advancements, including a revolutionary gearless propulsion system that reduces energy consumption by 30% and allows it to climb effortlessly at steep grades.”
The high-speed trains will reduce travel time between Las Vegas and Southern California to under two hours.
The vehicles aim to offer a modern travel experience, with features such as high-speed internet connectivity, large seats, and a ‘party car’ for enhanced passenger comfort.
Michael Reininger, CEO of Brightline said:
“We’ve said from the start that Brightline West will plant the flag for high-speed rail in America and will lay the foundation for a new industry with unimaginable economic benefits. Today’s announcement that jobs are being created thousands of kilometres away from the rail line is just the starting point.
“For the first time ever in the U.S., we will be manufacturing trains that will compete with the best in the world. Reaching speeds of over 300 km/h, these trains will be marked by the latest innovations designed for the modern traveller and establishing a new benchmark in transportation.”
Siemens Mobility’s expansion in Horseheads builds on the company’s existing US presence, which includes 25 manufacturing sites and 45,000 employees nationwide.
Production at the Horseheads facility is expected to begin in 2026, with the plant set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of US transportation.
