Siemens, Cummins to develop Tier 4 passenger locomotives

4 December 2013

Siemens Rail Systems and Cummins announced a partnership to develop passenger rail, diesel electric locomotives for the US marketplace. The 200 km/h locomotives will be powered by Cummins high speed QSK95 diesel engines, utilizing urea-SCR aftertreatment to meet the US EPA Tier 4 locomotive emission standards.

“Our engines are the perfect answer for today’s diesel electric needs: they’re more efficient, lighter and cleaner than engines of this output in the past,” said Ed Pence, Vice President and General Manager, Cummins High-Horsepower Engine Business. “We believe that our high-speed QSK95 engines will not just bring cleaner operation, but will achieve higher performance and lower operating costs than any system utilizing traditional medium speed powered locomotives.”

The locomotives will be built and assembled at Siemens’ transportation manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California. Siemens has also established a base of US rail suppliers that can be leveraged as part of the development of future passenger rail locomotives. Cummins diesel QSK95 engines will be made in Seymour, Indiana.

The 95 liter, 16 cylinder QSK95 is the most powerful diesel to be installed in a locomotive generating more than 4000 hp (2983 kW), said Cummins.

Cummins has also been working on the application of high speed engines in freight locomotives. The first QSK95-powered freight locomotive, with Siemens AC traction equipment and traction control, will begin commercial service operation in a field test with the Indiana Rail Road Company (IRR) in mid-2014. The EMD SD90 host locomotive currently undergoing refurbishment will be re-designated as 'CECX 1919' and will remain under Cummins ownership while operating with the IRR roster.

Siemens is already a provider of diesel electric locomotives in the US. Most recently, Siemens supplied electric locomotives for Amtrak’s Northeast and Keystone Corridors.

Source: Cummins