Part of it is because it's specifically written into CETA (European free trade agreement). The Buy America content would likely violate WTO rules, here's a link:
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/invest_e/invest_info_e.htm#skip
Good post. Neither agreement is fully ratified, but CETA is already pretty much in effect for well over 90% of what's been agreed, and railway equipment is even higher than that.So apparently Metro North also recently ordered Dual Mode Chargers if someone wants to look into that
USCMCA still have a few wrinkles to iron out, namely steel and other metals, and where it's sourced. There'll be a lot more in the news on that in the next few days.
I'm on record in this forum of 'holding Siemens to ransom' (as a surrogate of US regs) and perhaps supplying the same rolling stock in 'North Am form' from Germany instead of the US, at a price that would equal the US one plus the cost of reciprocal tariffs as the US would place on Cdn made locos and rolling stock. I'm sure this is being discussed right now in deliberations behind closed doors. A 'here's what will happen if you don't fully waiver steel and aluminum from Canada'.
I have little to no sympathy for BBD. They wanted to sell around the world, have done so, and now want to deny others the same.
Do I think Canada is using Siemens US as a 'bargaining chip'? You betcha...but Ottawa won't frame it that way.
Getting back to technical details, whoever is the announced finalist, it would be insanity to supply the locos as hybrids from the get-go, especially in lieu of Ontario now vacillating...without vaseline..."For the People"...the RFQ got around that by intimating upgrade to a dual later.
I'm intrigued by this:
So apparently Metro North also recently ordered Dual Mode Chargers if someone wants to look into that
If so, it means Siemens is well stanced to know what to quote, and how much for the entire package *minus* the traction xfrmr and control equipment which can be added as an upgrade later.
No way around it, they are impressive locos, and the coaches, if the Austrian based ones, also well tested and proven.
Addendum: (these would be third rail, haven't read up on this yet, but suspect the German, Austrian and other HQ would have a wealth of info on an HVAC catenary hybrid)
