Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract for the supply of seven advanced Charger diesel-electric locomotives from the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA),the operator of Tri-Rail commuter rail services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.
The new vehicles are expected to enter service in 2029, forming part of Tri-Rail’s commitment to offer enhanced rail transportation across South Florida and replacing a number of older units in the operator’s fleet.
Siemens will supply seven Charger diesel-electric locomotives to SFRTA
© Siemens Mobility
The new locomotives will also be fully equipped to provide service into MiamiCentral, which necessitates the installation of rail equipment that meets specific operational ad compliance requirements in order to access the station.
Tobias Bauer, CEO Siemens Mobility North America, said:
On behalf of the entire Siemens Mobility team, we are honoured that SFRTA has chosen our American Made technology to power Tri‑Rail’s next chapter.
With our Charger locomotives, riders will benefit from modern performance and improved access, including service into MiamiCentral.
The procurement was funded through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), with Siemens Mobility chosen to deliver the order due to its ability to provide locomotives that comply fully with both SFRTA’s operational needs and regulatory requirements.
Each new Siemens Charger locomotive will replace one of SFRTA’s aging EMD GP49 units, allowing the operator to retire older equipment and enhance overall service quality. The units will enter operation along the 73.5-mile corridor linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, as well as the additional 8-mile stretch on the Florida East Coast (FEC) Corridor to access MiamiCentral.
Production of the locomotives will begin ahead of delivery, with all units scheduled to enter service in 2029. They will be built at Siemens Mobility’s rail manufacturing hub in Sacramento, California.