TALGOs for Oregon
Author: Tom McCann
Date: 03-02-2010 - 14:07
Oregon DOT sent out a news release Feb. 26 that confirmed what has appeared in the railfan press; the state is purchasing two 13-car TALGO sets for Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest.
Currently, Oregon does not own any of the five sets in service; Washington DOT owns three and Amtrak owns two. Planned increases in service between Portland and Seattle would have required all of these sets in operation north of Portland and left Oregon with no rolling stock to cover the Eugene-Portland leg of the corridor.
Oregon will pay $36.6 million for the two sets, which Talgo America will build in Milwaukee, Wisc. as an add-on to an order of two 14-car trains for Wisconsin. By pooling their purchase with Wisconsin's, Oregon saved about $6 million. Federal stimulus funds will make the purchase possible.
The new trains are expected to enter service in 2012.