First Amtrak Charger to be Delivered in Early 2021

An SC-44 Charger owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation pulls the northbound Saluki through Humboldt, Illinois, on July 13, 2020.

Amtrak expects to begin taking delivery early next year of new Siemens Charger locomotives to be used to pull its long-distance trains.

The passenger carrier has ordered 75 Charges that will be similar to the SC-44 locomotives currently used by Midwest Corridor trains.

The first Charger to be used for long-distance service is expected to arrive in February or March 2021.

Amtrak has not said when it expects its new Charger locomotives to enter revenue service.

In a related matter, the Next Generation Equipment Committee has reported that 51 new passenger cars of an order of 137 have been assembled or are being constructed.

The Committee, which is comprised of representatives of Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak’s host freight railroads, equipment manufacturers, and state and other operators, said cars built for the Illinois Department of Transportation are expected to be delivered to that agency this month.

The cars will be used in corridor service in the Midwest and California.

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