Request for Statements of Interest: Availability for Demonstration of a High Speed Non-Electric (Fossil Fuel) Passenger Locomotive

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48448-48450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23004]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Request for Statements of Interest: Availability for 
Demonstration of a High Speed Non-Electric (Fossil Fuel) Passenger 
Locomotive

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Request for expressions of interest.

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SUMMARY: FRA announces the availability of a prototype high speed non-
electric (fossil fuel) passenger locomotive for demonstration on 
designated intercity high-speed rail passenger corridors. FRA seeks 
statements of interest from States or consortia of States interested in 
participating with FRA, the manufacturer of this locomotive, and Amtrak 
in such demonstrations.

Eligible Participants

    All States or consortia of States shall be eligible. States with 
high-speed rail corridors designated by the Secretary of Transportation 
pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 104(d) shall receive priority for the 
demonstration. It is expected that Federal financial assistance, if 
any, under this announcement will be provided only through a 
cooperative agreement.

Submission of Expressions of Interest

    Five (5) copies of each Expression of Interest should be submitted 
by November 19, 1999 to the following address: Associate Administrator 
for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 
20, 1120 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20590.

Points of Contact

    Technical questions regarding this request may be directed to: 
Robert J. McCown, Director, Technology Development Programs, Federal 
Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 20, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20590, TEL 202-493-6350, FAX 202-493-6333.
    Administrative questions regarding this request may be directed to: 
Robert L. Carpenter, Office of Acquisition & Grants Services, Federal 
Railroad Administration, Mail Stop 50, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20590, TEL 202-493-6153, FAX 202-493-6171.

Background

    FRA's Next Generation High-Speed Rail program has been established 
to facilitate the deployment of technologies where improved performance 
or reduced cost could enhance the viability of high-speed passenger 
rail service, based on incremental improvements to existing rail 
infrastructure. The present focus of the program is in four primary 
areas: non-electric locomotives, grade crossing risk mitigation, track 
and structures, and advanced train control systems.
    The successful development and demonstration of lightweight, high 
power, non-electric locomotives is critical to the introduction of 
passenger service in the United States at speeds above 90 mph. The cost 
of electrification may not yet be justifiable in some corridors. 
Further, locomotives based primarily on designs appropriate for freight 
applications are not practical for speeds above 100 mph, due to poor 
acceleration capability and weight, particularly unsprung mass, which 
is incompatible with sustained use on typical track structures, because 
of the large forces generated at high speeds. For territories where 
operations are shared with freight, high powered locomotives, with high 
rates of acceleration, are essential to the introduction of high-speed 
passenger operations.
    FRA, in partnership with Bombardier Transit Corporation, is 
producing a prototype high-speed non-electric locomotive capable of 125 
mph sustained operations, with the goal of ultimately being capable of 
150 mph operations, with acceleration characteristics approaching or 
equal to current high-speed electric locomotives used on the Northeast 
Corridor. In future phases of the project, the locomotive may also be 
capable of demonstrating enhanced performance using the energy storage 
element of the

[[Page 48449]]

flywheel developed as part of FRA's Advanced Locomotive Propulsion 
System (ALPS) project.
    The development of the locomotive has advanced to the point where 
FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation anticipate that the first 
prototype will enter into testing during the summer of 2000. Initially, 
the prototype will be tested at the Transportation Technology Center, 
in Pueblo, Colorado and other locations, to validate its readiness for 
passenger operations on the general rail system of the U.S. That 
initial testing will be followed by more extensive demonstrations of 
the technology over a wide range of operating conditions in which high-
speed non-electric locomotives might operate. FRA is seeking statements 
of interest at this time to provide all potential hosts of the proposed 
demonstration adequate time to plan and marshal the necessary resources 
for a successful demonstration.

Purpose and Project Description

    The purpose of the subject demonstration is to gain information on 
the performance of the prototype locomotive operating under a wide 
range of conditions similar to those in which production versions of 
high-speed non-electric locomotives might operate in the future. Two 
distinct types of demonstrations will be conducted:

Concept Demonstration

    The concept demonstration will involve demonstration of the 
prototype locomotive in several of the designated high-speed rail 
corridors for periods of three to fourteen days to obtain train 
performance data over a wide range of operating conditions. This type 
of demonstration will also gauge the reaction of and solicit input from 
various potential users of the equipment, including operators, host 
railroads, and the general public on design and performance aspects of 
the prototype. It is anticipated that the demonstrations will involve 
static display, as well as a limited number of train movements over 
segments of designated corridors at speeds up to the maximum allowable 
speed for the current track class and local conditions for those 
segments. FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation anticipate that the 
concept demonstration will begin in the late summer of 2000.

Service Demonstration

    The service demonstration will involve demonstration of the 
prototype locomotive in revenue service for an extended period of time 
(three to six months) in one or possibly two designated corridors to 
obtain longer term performance data concerning durability, reliability, 
and maintainability. This demonstration will also be used to more fully 
explore the capabilities of the prototype, including its ability to 
operate in conjunction with modern passenger rail equipment in use in 
North America. This part of the demonstration program will involve 
revenue service operation of the locomotive and appropriate passenger 
cars on a regular schedule by the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation (Amtrak). The service demonstration will begin after 
completion of the initial concept demonstration and after any necessary 
servicing to and adjustments of the prototype have been completed. 
After the completion of the service demonstration, the locomotive may 
perform additional concept demonstrations in selected corridors before 
being used to test a high-speed lightweight generator system being 
developed by the ALPS project team. At the completion of this testing 
it is possible that the locomotive may again be available for 
additional revenue service demonstration.

Furnished Equipment

    FRA and Bombardier Transit Corporation will make available one 
prototype high-speed non-electric locomotive for this demonstration 
that meets all applicable FRA safety standards for operation at speeds 
of up to 125mph. Depending upon final configuration, the train may be 
suitable for revenue service operation at speeds up to 150mph. FRA also 
anticipates furnishing technical guidance and assistance as appropriate 
throughout the project.
    Bombardier Transit Corporation will make available for the concept 
and service demonstrations, three tilting coaches (one first class and 
two business class) with a total seating capacity of approximately 175, 
which are similar to those that will be entering Amtrak's Northeast 
Corridor Acela Express service in late 1999 and 2000. Two of these 
coaches will be modified to permit service to low platforms.

Role of the Selected States and Other Parties

    The selected State or consortia of States will be responsible for 
all planning, coordination and management of the concept demonstration 
while the locomotive is located on the designated corridor. During the 
concept demonstration, the selected State(s) will be responsible for 
funding the operating expenses associated with the operation on the 
corridor, including, but not necessarily limited to: payments for track 
access, train and engine crew costs, fuel and other servicing 
requirements, station costs, and security. FRA estimates that costs to 
be borne by a selected State for a typical concept demonstration would 
be between $8,000 and $14,000 per day of operation. The Federal 
financial commitment, if any, to a selected State will be made through 
a cooperative agreement between that State or consortium of States and 
FRA.
    During the service demonstration, the selected State(s) will make 
any necessary arrangements with Amtrak (or others, if required) to 
permit an extended revenue service demonstration of the prototype, 
including covering net operating costs incurred by Amtrak (or others, 
if required) during the service demonstration.
    Subject to funds availability, FRA and its partners in the 
locomotive development will arrange for the support of costs associated 
with operations outside the geographic area of the selected State(s) 
(e.g. cost to move the locomotive from one demonstration site to 
another), as well as extraordinary maintenance costs, and may provide 
additional assistance as needed to the extent that the demonstration 
entails costs beyond normal train operation. Applicants should indicate 
whether they are in a position to contribute any funds toward these 
costs. Bombardier Transit Corporation will provide qualified personnel 
who will assist in maintenance and servicing of the equipment during 
the demonstration to the extent that these tasks are specific to this 
equipment.
    After completion of the service demonstration, the State or 
consortium of States will prepare a report in cooperation with Amtrak, 
Bombardier Transit Corporation, and FRA detailing the performance, 
suitability, customer acceptance, and operating economics of the train 
during the service demonstration.
    Amtrak will operate the train during the demonstration and between 
demonstration locations, interfacing with host railroads, providing 
necessary train and engine crews, any inspections required by statute 
or regulation, and will assist Bombardier Transit Corporation in the 
regular servicing of the equipment.

Statements of Interest

    States interested in hosting either a concept or service 
demonstration must submit statements of interest to the address 
identified above no later than

[[Page 48450]]

November 19, 1999. Statements of interest shall be no more than ten 
pages in length. Each statement of interest shall, at a minimum, 
indicate whether the applicant houses a designated high-speed corridor; 
identify whether the applicant proposes to host a concept 
demonstration, service demonstration or both; provide a detailed 
description of the proposed demonstration(s), including the route and 
schedule of any demonstrations; describe how the demonstration will 
develop information that supports FRA's overall program goal of 
facilitating the introduction of high-speed rail service in corridors 
outside the Northeast Corridor; provide a detailed list of any 
resources required and outstanding issues that must be resolved before 
undertaking the demonstration; provide a statement from a responsible 
official of the host railroad concerning the anticipated availability 
of the rail line proposed for the demonstration during the 
demonstration period outlined above; and, identify the intended 
source(s) and commitment status of the selected State(s)'s proposed 
funding.

Evaluation and Selection

    In cooperation with its partners, FRA will evaluate the statements 
of interest using the following criteria:
    1. The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal.
    2. The degree to which the proposed demonstration will advance the 
feasibility of U.S. high-speed rail operations by providing public 
exposure of HSR technology and operational information on the 
performance and public acceptance of the demonstration train.
    3. The qualifications and demonstrated experience of the proposing 
organization to support the proposed demonstration(s).
    4. The reasonableness and realism of the proposed costs.
    5. The degree to which Federal funds are leveraged by private, non-
Federal, and/or Federal funds available from sources other than FRA 
programs, including the degree to which funds are offered to offset 
FRA's costs of moving the locomotive between demonstration corridors.
    6. The availability of funds.
    It is expected that this review process will be completed within 90 
days of the closing date of this announcement. At that time FRA may, at 
its option, request more detailed proposals from some or all of the 
applicants, or move forward in negotiating appropriate agreements with 
the selected applicants, based solely upon the statements of interest.

    Dated: August 27, 1999.
Jolene M. Molitoris,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-23004 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P