Amtrak issued and RFP for the next gen Acela
The bids haven't been made public by Amtrak, but some of the manufacturers have come forward as to whether they have bid. Amtrak wants off the shelf High speed train sets that can operate 220mph. The manufacturer must have active rolling stock to bid.
Bombardier has bowed out and will not be bidding for the contract
Bombardier spokeswoman Maryanne Roberts said Amtrak changed its technical specifications during the proposal stage.
"Unfortunately, the time remaining before the due date for the technical proposals was not sufficient for us to make the necessary adjustments to our proposal," she said in an e-mail.
I'm glad to see them go. It would have been nice to see what the Zefiro, Bombardier's first in house designed and built HSR, but after the debacle that was the Acela, let someone else (the Chinese) bite that bullet and watch and see how it turns out.
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKBN0JM20L20141208
Siemens which won a contract with Amtrak for ACS-64 electric locomotives and several state contracts for diesel loco is likely in the running.
Siemens AG declined to comment on whether it is bidding but a spokesman said it has "great interest" in the United States. It has a manufacturing facility in California.
I personally don't want Siemens to win. That would give Siemens an almost monopoly in the US rail market. I'm also wary of a single manufacturer, defects tend to crop up (they may not be immediately evident) and Amtrak could end up with another HHP-8/Acela debacle Siemens has no rolling stock with active tilt, which technically
Completely unexpected was Hyundai Rotem eagerness to bid.
A spokesperson for Hyundai Rotem said the Korean company had submitted a letter of intent to bid.
I think Rotem is the only manufacturer that can win the bid either way the FRA leans. Amtrak specifically wants off the shelf train to reduce cost. The FRA still hasn't cleared the EMU high speed trains to operate over 125 mph on shared track. If the FRA doesn't lift this restriction then Amtrak would be forced to go with a HSR with power cars like the current Acela. Rotem rolling stock (the KTX I & II) are very similar to the Acela. The KTX I was designed with Alstom, both have power cars. If The FRA does clear the way for over 125 mph emu operation then Rotem has the KTX III ready. Also it has active tilt on all of their rolling stock which is a necessity on the NEC.
The possible unknowns are Nippo and kawasaki, both have plants in the USA, Both have built HSTs. Alstom is really a wild card.