Siemens Mobility awarded $772 million Trainset Contract for California High-Speed Rail Project

California, USA (Rail & Metro Today): Siemens Mobility has been selected to supply and maintain three American Pioneer 220 (AP220) high-speed trainsets for the California High-Speed Rail project in the United States. The proposed contract package, covering train supply, maintenance and associated provisions, is valued at approximately $772.1 million, marking a significant milestone in preparations for the project’s initial operating section between Bakersfield and Merced.

Documents released ahead of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) board meeting scheduled for October 28, 2026, outline plans to approve the contract award. Alstom and Siemens Mobility had both prequalified for the rolling stock procurement, which is intended to provide trains for the first phase of passenger operations.

Under the proposed arrangement, Siemens Mobility would receive $281.7 million to supply the three trainsets and $284.1 million for a full-service maintenance agreement covering 2030 to 2040. A further $206.3 million provision would cover testing, cost escalation, foreign exchange fluctuations, taxes and other expenses. The final contract award remains subject to the authority’s approval.

Train Deliveries Planned from 2029

Deliveries are envisaged to begin towards the end of 2029, allowing testing to start in spring 2030. The schedule is intended to support the opening of the 275-km Initial Operating Section between Bakersfield and Merced in 2033–34.

The procurement would also include options for up to 19 additional trainsets at $62.1 million each, allowing the authority to expand its fleet as operational requirements develop. The maintenance agreement would use monthly payments linked to train availability and reliability, with options for five-year extensions up to a maximum total duration of 30 years.

AP220 Trains Designed for High-Speed Operations

The AP220 trainsets belong to Siemens Mobility’s Velaro Novo family and are designed for speeds of up to 354 km/h (220 mph). The seven-car trains would be approximately 202 metres long, with at least 450 reclining seats arranged in a 2+2 configuration. Each seat would have power and USB-C charging points, while every coach would include an accessible toilet.

The trains would feature aluminium bodies and be designed to meet US federal Tier III crash and fire safety requirements for high-speed operation. Technical features would address the route’s demanding operating conditions, including steep climbs, tunnels and elevations of up to 1,400 metres.

Each trainset would have 8.2 MW of distributed power. Onboard batteries would provide emergency propulsion and maintain air-conditioning if the overhead power supply failed. The trains would also be capable of operating in pairs.

To manage costs and simplify procurement, the authority plans to rely on Siemens Mobility’s standard configurations, limiting customisation largely to livery, colours and selected materials. The interiors would retain flexibility for potential future changes, including alternative seating layouts, family areas, bicycle spaces and food-service facilities.

The trainsets would have a design life of 30 years or 20 million kilometres, supporting long-term fleet utilisation.

Siemens Expands Its US High-Speed Rail Presence

The California contract would strengthen Siemens Mobility’s position in the emerging US high-speed rail market. In May 2024, the company was selected to supply and maintain 10 seven-car AP220 trainsets for Brightline West, the proposed 351-km high-speed railway linking Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga, east of Los Angeles.

For California, the rolling stock procurement is a key step towards preparing the railway for passenger services. The project’s next milestones will include final contract approval, train manufacturing, testing and the development of the infrastructure and operational arrangements required to launch the initial section.