ODOT has just announced that they will purchase 2 new Talgo trainsets for Cascades service. The announcement says that the trains will be delivered in 2012 and will be used to enhance service in the Willamette Valey (Portland to Eugene)
The Oregon Department of Transportation has negotiated the purchase of two new passenger trains from Talgo-America. Each train seats 285 people and will provide continued Amtrak Cascades passenger service in the Pacific Northwest rail corridor between Eugene and Vancouver, British Columbia.Apparently these trains will be added to the current pool of 5 trainsets, owned by Amtrak and WSDOT.
The trains, which cost $36.6 million, will be assembled at a new Talgo plant in Wisconsin with a majority of American-made components. There are 13 cars per train. The Oregon Transportation Commission approved use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds for the purchase on July 23, 2009. By pooling the train purchase with Wisconsin, Oregon saved about $6 million.