GE’s locomotive tech to power passenger rail in Mass.

August 31, 2010

In the rail industry, all eyes are on the race to put the world’s best technologies into the next generation of higher-speed rail projects — especially those that may soon get the green light in the U.S. Already, California is in talks with manufacturers to build its own high-speed network, and Amtrak is considering massive upgrades that will include trains running between 110 and 124 mph in 10 U.S. corridors. As part of its push into that higher-speed arena, GE Transportation, which is the industry leader in diesel-electric locomotives, is already leveraging its latest breakthroughs in the passenger space — and one example is a deal announced today that will help power trains in the greater Boston area. Diesel engines, power systems, computer control systems and traction systems from GE — born from the Evolution series of more energy-efficient locomotives — will be going on 20 next-generation passenger locomotives as part of a contract between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Wabtec’s locomotive-manufacturing MotivePower unit. With GE supplying components from plants in Erie and Grove City, Pennsylvania, and Wabtec building the locomotives at its Boise, Idaho facility, the project is expected to create or retain 1,246 jobs.

Speed racer: Here’s an artist rendering of what the next generation, higher speed passenger locomotive by GE could look like.

The teams say that the new design, with its advanced traction technology and the ability to remotely monitor key diagnostics, is poised to deliver the most reliable and efficient passenger locomotive to date. Importantly, it helps position them “to lead the way in developing locomotives for the higher-speed rail corridors of the future,” said Wabtec’s President and CEO Albert J. Neupaver.

GE’s technology was developed for the Evolution Series Locomotive, which represents a $400 million, eight-year investment. Today more than 3,700 GE Evolution Series locomotives are in revenue service around the world.

Pennsylvania-based Wabtec’s decision to go with the GE components follows China’s decision in November to work with GE to accelerate the development of high-speed rail projects in the U.S.— and the announcement in April that the new partnership is in the running to power California’s planned high-speed passenger rail project.

* Read today’s announcement
* Read more rail stories on GE Reports
* See why our Evolution series is part of our ecomagination line
* Learn about our Evolution Hybrid Locomotive

w.p.ward

this is great news. had pleasure to partake in early years prior(1950) loco specialist training at erie. spent (3) months learning the requirements of the diesel loco and its high efficiency to replace the coal burning steamers of earlier years. it was great time. ge diesel locos were looked for all over in the industrial, mainline, and international markets and at that time earlieriinterest in all electric locos was coming back in erie view.
w.p.ward

adding to previous notes, it was a time when ge was seeking to expand ge product penetration of its many products, systems and project approaches to expanding foreign railroads to meet the foreign approach to expanding the opportunities with “turnkey” offers of overseas competitors but enhancing such proposals with automation components using the great technical knowledge and products that ge had in its product basket. it was not new. it was in full force and effect in the power and steel mill markets we serve at home and abroad in those exciting times. Erie developed the need for automation of manufacture and improved its outstanding position versus GM a worthy competitor in those long ago days! hope this is of interest to our great ge teams.
w.p.ward

as former ge/ige sales person involved at one time in internatioal sales would be interested to know if we are stll ready partner when necessary with foreign ge operations abroad or with others who may help expand our project, system, and product sales. i am not involved in such approaches to the overseas work but interested to know if some of the “old” market approaches are still providing an expanding volume of equipment. parts and expanding sales for our outstanding Company. All the best to the best!
debra borg

keep all work in the US tired of all good jobs going over seas. What do they expext will happen to our grandkids down the road.
Chris Martone

Lawd that thing is ugly!!! GE please do something about the ugliness of that thing. And since I run Amtrak locos all the time, do something about those blindspot in the corners..that looks worse than the P42′s. AC traction will mean nothing if ya dont put some more weight on them as well. Do something about the Air Conditioning since it vents in the stank from the toliet. Try getting intouch with the people that run the things for a living and let us tell you what the new loco needs.
john markus

i second that as well. i also operate the p42DC’s and this thing is absolutely ugly. it looks like an over sized Volkswagen beetle. nothing like a locomotive. they seem to be more and more designed by people that push pencils in office chairs and never receive any input from the people that are qualified to operate them on a daily basis. please get in contact with people that that work as locomotive engineers. they know BEST.
melchor reyes

with my project i can obtain galons,and galons of pure water with a low price, and any site of the world,but i need you help,.tanks again.