The Charger is equipped with a 3.28MW Cummins QSK 95 engine, which is compliant with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emissions standards. The new locomotives will offer a 16% improvement in fuel efficiency compared with SJRRC’s current fleet of F40PH locomotives and will also enable the maximum train length to be increased from seven to 10 coaches.
The locomotives will be assembled at Siemens’ Sacramento plant with deliveries due to begin in December 2019. The contract includes an option for four additional units.
The order is partially funded through grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.
ACE began operating services between Stockton and San Jose in 1998, initially with just two round trips a day. Today four return services connect the two cities, carrying around 1.3 million passengers a year, and SJRRC is developing plans to extend trains to Ceres, Modesto and Sacramento.
