MILWAUKEE (AP) – A Spanish train company says it will open an assembly plant in Milwaukee.
Governor Jim Doyle and Talgo executives plan to formally announce the project Tuesday.
Talgo is expected to build on the former Tower Automotive plant site. The new plant could initially employ about 80 people.
Wisconsin has a $47 million deal with Talgo to build two 14-car trains for Amtrak’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago line. It also has an option for two additional trains to serve a Milwaukee-to-Madison route.
Ironic, went from making cars to making trains.
Do they plan on supplying trains to the other corridors? Are these trains sets or more like those seen on the Northeast Regional and Keystone Services?
Is this near Avalon Rail, which is rebuilding 12 cars for VIA Rail?
Not really. Avalon Rail is in West Allis on a UP (ex-C&NW) line. The Tower plant is north of the CP main on WSOR trackage that the old MILW freight line than ran between Milwaukee and Portage, WI.
Having never heard of these folks, Googled www.avalonrails.com. Their website has lots of photos and videos available bby folowing the various links in their website. Pretty interesting stuff…
More can be found (with links to references about the Avalon Rails, at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon_Rail
quoted from the wikipedia link:
“…The company was founded in 2000 by former employees of Northern Rail Car Corporation, a railcar manufacturer then owned by William E. Gardner, who also owns the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad.[1][2]…”
Was not Northern Rail Car the home of the MILW261?
There is the possibility of a couple of trainsets for Oregon getting piggybacked on the Wisconsin order. Also, Wisconsin has the option of two more trainsets.
What is the most important item? At what date will the plant be able to start production?
Per the local news today, the expected startup is set for June; hiring has already begun.
I think you’re thinking of North Star Rail, which did have a direct connection to MILW 261 (Steve Sandberg was technically the COO of North Star Rail I believe). To my knowledge Northern Rail Car/Avalon Rail has never had any direct ties to the 261.
Noah