Joint request for proposals has been issued. Only manufacturers with 2 or more years of experience of proven train sets need apply. When someone finds a copy of the RFP please post the link.
Here’s what Amtrak has to say about this RFP:
Notice of Request for Proposals (RFP) It makes it clear that anyone interested in participating has to be pre-qualified and then invited to the solicitation. Only those invited get the actual RFP documents.
Shouldn’t be too hard to come up with some possible vendors who will be interested in this. Siemens should be on that list.
I’d suspect Siemens, Bombardier, Alstom, with the possibility of Japanese or even a Chinese bid. Will be interesting if Siemens has an advantage if much of the parts are shared with the ACS-64s and the high speed diesels for the Midwest.
Since Siemens, USA employs around 60,000 here, they may well have the best shot.