Siemens lands 466-million-dollar order from US rail

German engineering group Siemens said Thursday it has been awarded a 466-million-dollar contract to build 70 electric locomotives for US rail company Amtrak's busy northeastern routes.

Under the terms of the contract, 250 new jobs will be created to build the locomotives, including 200 at Siemens's existing light manufacturing facility in Sacramento, California, the firm said in a statement.

The first locomotives, destined for the busiest rail route in the country, are due to be delivered in 2013, and all of their main components will be produced at Siemens plants in the United States.

Siemens said it would use renewable energy to build them and that they will include energy efficient features, including regenerative breaking.

"As the global leader in rail innovation, we are thrilled that Amtrak has selected our proven locomotive technology," said Siemens president and CEO Daryl Dulaney.

"These locomotives will be built in America using renewable energy and provide cleaner, more efficient movement of people on the most heavily traveled rail route in the country.

(c) 2010 AFP