New specifications for diesel/electric locomotives were approved Wednesday by the Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee, another step in a national effort to make it easier, faster, and less expensive to build and purchase rail cars and other equipment for America's emerging high-speed and intercity passenger rail program.

Any state using federal funds for its intercity passenger rail corridor equipment must by law meet these specifications. Diesel/electric locomotives include a diesel engine that generates electricity to power the train.

"Rail cars and locomotives that can be used by all the states will reduce costs while increasing the efficiency of procurement and manufacturing," said Bill Bronte, chairman of the committee's executive board and rail director for the California Department of Transportation. "Standard specs will also enable states to pool their equipment purchases and therefore generate more demand for manufacturers. This is fundamental to building and sustaining our own American-based manufacturing capability for passenger rail, and will generate investment and create jobs here in the U.S."

The Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee was created by Congress in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 to develop specifications and procurement strategies for America's next generation of passenger trains. The committee is a collaboration of states, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and rail equipment manufacturers and suppliers. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials acts as the secretariat for the executive board as well as providing a broad range of support services for the committee as a whole.

Last month, the group approved single-level, stand-alone corridor passenger cars; in August 2010, the board approved specifications for bi-level coach, dining, baggage, and Business Class rail cars. Members of the committee's executive board include 11 state transportation departments, FRA, and Amtrak.

"Taken together, these actions will advance the ability for domestic manufacturers to gear up and really get to work on American-made train sets," Bronte said.

Amtrak Vice President Stephen Gardner said recently that his company also plans to use the standard specs, as applicable, to purchase new cars or locomotives for Amtrak's national system.

New York state Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said high-speed passenger rail service will revolutionize the way people will travel in America.

"By standardizing the specs for building diesel/electric locomotives, we are making it easier and more cost-efficient to build and purchase necessary equipment for this vital program right here in the United States," she said. "The benefits to high-speed rail are numerous, and the potential for an economic boon just increased exponentially with this announcement. We look forward to possible opportunities for New York-based manufacturers to participate in this endeavor."

Specifications and additional information on the committee are available at bit.ly/NGCEPC.