Siemens Velaro High-Speed Train Coming to Florida - VIDEO ENHANCED

“Future of Florida High-Speed Rail Tour” Showcases World's Fastest Passenger Train*

SACRAMENTO, CA - October 7, 2010: It's safe, sustainable, superfast and coming soon to the United States. Florida is about to make transportation history as the first state to build a high-speed rail corridor, with trains connecting Tampa to Orlando and then to Miami in a second phase. With the help of $1.25 billion from the Obama Administration's stimulus package, the construction could produce up to 27,500 new jobs and $2.9 billion a year in new business sales.

Siemens kicked off its “Future of Florida High-Speed Rail Tour” in Tampa on October 7, 2010, with a special VIP event at Tampa's MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry). The exhibit features a full-sized model of the Siemens Velaro high-speed train.

Following its Tampa debut, the “Future of Florida High-Speed Rail Tour” will continue on to other cities in Florida, including Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee. Visitors to the exhibit in each city will not only have the chance to see the Velaro, the fastest passenger train* in the world, but also the opportunity to have their questions answered by high-speed rail experts.

Click PLAY to watch video

The Velaro currently operates at high-speeds in Germany, Spain, China, Russia, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria. In 2006, a Velaro E trainset operated by Spain's national rail authority, RENFE, set a world record for fastest unmodified commercial rail travel. The record-setting train achieved a top speed of 250.85 mph (403.7 km/h) running between Guadalajara and Calatayud on the Madrid-Zaragoza line.

The Tampa exhibit will be open to the public on Thursday, Oct 7 and Friday, Oct. 8, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Oct. 9 - 10, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission to the Future of Florida High-Speed Rail Tour is free and MOSI will offer a limited-time buy-one, get-one free admission price into the museum for guests visiting the High-Speed Rail Tour. Members of the general public interested in attending the Future of Florida High-Speed Rail Tour can register for free by visiting www.usa.siemens.com/highspeedtour. Registration is not required, but is recommended due to space constraints.

For more information on Siemens high-speed rail, visit www.usa.siemens.com/highspeedrail.