New Siemens Chargers for North San Diego County

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L-R: A painted shell construction of a Charger locomotive for Caltrans and a ready for delivery Charger locomotive for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Photo: Siemens.
L-R: A painted shell construction of a Charger locomotive for Caltrans and a ready for delivery Charger locomotive for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Photo: Siemens.
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Government agency the North County Transit District (NCTD), California, has approved the purchase of five new Siemens Charger locomotives.

These diesel-electric locomotives will replace five units originally built between 1975-1992 that have now reached the end of their operational life.

NCTD will improve operational efficiency, reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent and fuel consumption by up to 16 per cent on its Coaster service as a result of the new locomotives.

The purchase of the new locomotives is part of a multi-state procurement with the California and Illinois Departments of Transportation. This joint agreement saves money for the district due to lowered procurement costs, according to Siemens.


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The purchase of new Coaster locomotives – priced collectively at more than $37 million – has been made possible by State of California funding and $10 million of Carl Moyer grant funds provided from the Air Pollution Control District.

Siemens will build the units at its Sacramento facility with delivery of the first vehicle expected in March 2021 and the final locomotive in June 2021.

NCTD board member Bill Horn said: “These new locomotives will help support our mission to provide reliable public transportation to passengers throughout San Diego County.

“In addition to increased reliability, they will also incorporate new technologies that release lower emissions and will improve air quality in the region.”


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