U.S. manufacturers are being invited to submit bids to produce high-performance, next-generation diesel-electric locomotives.
The request comes from a multi-state effort to jointly purchase standardized rail equipment to be used on state corridor routes in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Iowa in the Midwest and Washington, California, and Oregon on the West Coast.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Illinois is leading the multi-state locomotive procurement, with first deliveries expected in 2016.
The Federal Railroad Administration has allocated $808 million to manufacture the next generation of passenger rail equipment including the 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars. The cars will be built in Rochelle at the Nippon Sharyo plant.