Siemens to expand U.S. plant to meet high-speed rail needs

Siemens Mobility on February 18 announced that in response to the federal government's recent investment in high-speed rail, it has taken steps to expand its U.S. manufacturing plant to meet future demand for the trains and rail infrastructure technologies required for the systems. Specific actions taken include the purchase of land for plant expansion and adding power supply from renewable energy sources.

"We applaud the Obama Administration's commitment to building America's high-speed-rail system. Siemens is ready to not only bring its proven high-speed-train technology to the U.S. market, but also to build the systems right here in the United States." said Oliver Hauck, president of Siemens Mobility in the United States.

Siemens makes a line of trains that run up to 220 mph, which are currently operating in Germany, China, Russia and Spain. These trains are a match for the systems proposed for California and Florida. Siemens also produces a line of trains that go between 110 and 125 mph, which would fit the requirements of other high-speed-rail corridors, including the Midwest.

"We can also design and implement rail automation and electrification equipment to move high-speed-rail systems safely, efficiently and with as little impact on the environment as possible," said Hauck.

To meet the future demand for high-speed-rail technology, Siemens recently completed the purchase of 20 acres of land adjacent to its existing 34-acre, light-rail vehicle manufacturing facility in Sacramento.

"This parcel will be the future manufacturing site for the high-speed trains for the United States. These trains will be built by Americans for the American market," Hauck said.

The Siemens facility in Sacramento is the only permanent, light-rail vehicle manufacturing facility in the United States. Siemens employs more than 700 people in this facility, which recently underwent a $26 million expansion. The company is also expanding its solar energy system, doubling the capacity from one megawatt to two full megawatts, which will meet nearly all of the factory's current power needs and a portion of those required for the manufacture of high-speed trains.

Siemens is the market leader for light-rail-vehicle production in North America with half the market share for those currently being built. Additionally, Siemens manufactured one third of the cars currently in use in 13 cities, including Denver, Charlotte, San Diego and Portland. Siemens also announced last month that it would lead the consortium involved in the $321 million upgrade of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's Trans-Hudson's PATH train system.

About Siemens
A division of Siemens Industry Inc. (SII), Siemens Mobility (MO) Division is North America's leading provider of transportation and logistics solutions. Using its "Complete mobility" approach, the division focuses on networking various modes of transportation to maximize the most efficient transport of people and goods. "Complete mobility" includes operations control systems for railways, roadway traffic control systems, airport logistics solutions, postal automation, traction power supplies, rolling stock for mass transit, regional and mainline services, turnkey systems as well as forward-looking service concepts. The Mobility Division posted worldwide revenues of $8.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.