Siemens is at it again with a hybrid train capable of 125 mph

By Dave Palmer Published November 18, 2017

Siemens is no stranger to hybrid-transportation technology, and has announced its intention to create a hybrid electric plane long before NASA. However, the engineering firm is also working on more earthbound transportation in the form of a passenger train — and a fast one at that.

In a privately funded venture, Siemens will build hybrid diesel electric trains for Brightline, according to Business Insider. Initial plans for the train will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Brightline indicates that the train will cut travel between downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale to 30 minutes, allowing commuters and tourists a quicker, greener option to travel that route.

Recommended Videos

Florida’s east coast will be a starter market for the high-speed hybrid train, but Siemens indicates that it is also manufacturing 69 more diesel-electric trains for California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington Departments of Transportation. Siemens manufactures the trains at its 600,000 square foot factory in Sacramento, California, and then transports the trains to the service markets.

Rail service from Miami to West Palm Beach is scheduled to begin in mid-2017, though no implementation time frame was immediately available for the markets outside of Florida.

In the mean time, Florida is preparing the infrastructure necessary to incorporate this game-changer and to extend its reach. Fort Lauderdale began construction on its 60,000 square foot Brightline station in May. Outside of Fort Lauderdale, rail construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2017, and will add Orlando to the list of Florida rail destinations.

While the 125 mph Brightline is not as fast as some found overseas, it is much faster than Amtrack’s 80 mph trains, and provides a quicker alternative for travel between the popular destinations on Florida’s east coast.

A 4,000 horsepower Cummins diesel-electric engine powers the Brightline train, and a 42,000-pound 16-cylinder electric generator keeps electricity flowing. 42 miles of cable runs throughout the train to meet train and passenger electrical demands. The hybrid design allows the train to meet Federal Railroad Administration Tier IV clean air standards.

Former Contributor

Dave’s technology geek-fest began with the classic Commodore 64 computer, which started a lifelong passion for all things…

Topics

Entertainment

Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts

Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Entertainment

Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode

Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.