Siemens Mobility has been awarded a $281.7 million contract to supply three American Pioneer 220 (AP220) trainsets for the California High Speed Rail project’s Initial Operating Section between Bakersfield and Merced. Delivery of the trainsets is scheduled to begin at the end of 2029, with testing expected to start in spring 2030 ahead of the section’s planned opening in 2033-34.
Alongside the supply contract, Siemens Mobility will provide maintenance and full service for the trainsets from 2030 through 2040 under a $284.1 million agreement. The contract includes a 10-year maintenance period with monthly payments tied to train availability and reliability,
plus options to extend the service in five-year increments up to 30 years. Additionally, a $206.3 million provision has been set aside for testing, cost escalation, foreign exchange, taxes and other expenses. The contract also allows options to procure up to 19 more trainsets at $62.1 million each.
Technical Specifications and Safety Standards
The Siemens AP220 trainsets belong to the Velaro Novo family and are designed for operations at speeds reaching 354 km/h (220 mph). Each seven-car trainset measures 202 meters and contains at least 450 reclining seats arranged in a 2+2 configuration with a seat pitch of 990 mm. Every seat is equipped with
power and USB-C outlets, and each coach has an accessible toilet. The train interiors offer flexible layouts that can be adapted for future seating configurations, family and bicycle areas, and food service options.
Constructed with aluminium bodies, the trains meet US federal Tier III crash and fire safety regulations applicable to operations above 200 km/h. They are engineered to handle the route’s demanding topography, including long climbs, tunnels, and altitudes up to 1,400 meters. The trainsets use distributed traction generating 8.2 MW of power and include batteries to support emergency propulsion and maintain air-conditioning during power outages. The trains are
capable of operating in pairs.
Manufacturing and Procurement Background
The AP220 trainsets for California High Speed Rail will be manufactured in Germany. This is possible after the California High Speed Rail Authority removed federal Buy American requirements in August, allowing foreign-built rolling stock. Cost control is maintained by Siemens Mobility through the use of standardized configurations, limiting customer choices to external livery, colors, and some materials.
Siemens Mobility previously secured a contract in May 2024 to supply and maintain 10 seven-car AP220 trainsets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project, which will connect Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga, east of Los Angeles, over a
351 km route. Siemens’ involvement in both projects highlights its expanding role in high-speed rail technology applications in the western United States.
