At Sacramento Manufacturing Plant, Congressman Garamendi Welcomes American-Made Locomotives

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, welcomed the debut of a new fleet of American-made locomotives that will service the Amtrak Northeast Corridor in a few months. The trains were manufactured at a Siemens plant in Sacramento, California, which is powered by renewable energy. The trains are more energy efficient and will be able to reach speeds of up to 125 mph.

"An investment in American manufactured transportation is an investment in American jobs now and for years to come," said Congressman John Garamendi. "These locomotives were built in America because the Recovery Act said that they had to be. The Department of Transportation invested $466 million to build 70 advanced locomotives, leading to 200 new jobs in Sacramento and hundreds more across the country. These employees' wages circulate throughout our economy, supporting businesses along the way. In just a few months, these high tech locomotives will facilitate efficient transportation for passengers along the East Coast, creating yet another virtuous cycle for our economy."

Garamendi added, "It starts with public policy and Congress's policy should be "Let's Make It In America and create jobs now.'"

Congressman Garamendi is the author of the bipartisan Make It In America: Create Clean Energy Manufacturing Jobs in America Act, H.R. 1524 and the lead cosponsor of the Invest in American Jobs Act. The bills would ensure that taxpayer dollars for clean energy, highway, bridge, public transit, passenger rail, and airport projects are spent on U.S. manufacturing, creating American jobs.

"The new Amtrak locomotives will help power the economic future of the Northeast region, provide more reliable and efficient service for passengers and support the rebirth of rail manufacturing in America," said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman. "Built on the West Coast for service in the Northeast with suppliers from many states, businesses and workers from across the country are helping to modernize the locomotive fleet of America's Railroad."

"Siemens greatly appreciates Congressman Garamendi's presence today, and his strong and continuing advocacy for the hundreds of manufacturing jobs that orders for advanced rail equipment are supporting here in Sacramento," said Michael Cahill, President of Siemens Rail Systems, Inc.

The new locomotives are designed for easier maintenance, will improve energy efficiency by using a regenerative braking system that will feed energy back into the power grid and will enhance mobility for the people, businesses and economy of the entire Northeast region. They also meet the latest federal rail safety regulations.

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