Америкалық жолаушылар тасымалы үшін француз-канадтық электр локомотиві

French Canadian electric locomotive for American passenger uses

The Bombardier–Alstom HHP 8 (High Horse Power 8000) is a type of twin cab electric locomotive manufactured by a consortium of Bombardier Transportation and Alstom for Amtrak and MARC. The locomotive's electrical drive technology is directly derived from the SNCF BB 36000 manufactured by Alstom. A small class size and reliability problems with correspondingly high per capita maintenance and replacement costs led Amtrak to retire all of its HHP 8s after only a decade in service. MARC initially made the decision to retire their HHP 8s, but later opted to refurbish their fleet from 2017 to 2018.

Amtrak assumed control of almost all private sector intercity passenger rail service in the United States on May 1, 1971. The centerpiece of Amtrak's system was the Northeast Corridor, a 457 mile (735 km) line between Washington, D. C., and Boston, Massachusetts, via New York City. The line was electrified from Washington through New York to New Haven, Connecticut; diesel locomotives handled trains over the remaining 157 mile (253 km) between New Haven and Boston. In the 1990s Amtrak rebuilt and electrified the route as part of the project which established high speed Acela Express service between Washington and Boston. The extension of electrification between New Haven and Boston meant that Amtrak would need additional electric locomotives to pull conventional trains east of New Haven. Neither of Amtrak's existing designs, the EMD AEM 7 and GE E60, were still in production, and the latter was slated for retirement. Amtrak chose to have Bombardier and Alstom, makers of the Acela Express, produce a visually similar derivative for conventional service.

The HHP 8 measures 67 feet (20 m) long by 10 feet (3 m) wide and stands 14 feet (4 m) tall (from the rail to the locomotive roof, excluding the pantographs). This was 16 feet (5 m) longer than the AEM 7, though still shorter than the E60. The locomotive weighs The carbody is stainless steel; the locomotive has a 6 MJ crash energy absorbance structure. this includes four three phase asynchronous traction motors powered by GTO based inverters, with one inverter per motor; the electric system also allows regenerative and rheostatic braking.

Amtrak ordered 15 HHP 8s in 1996 at the same time as its Acela Express trainsets. The HHP 8s have external styling that is similar to the Acela power cars, but are designed to operate as independent locomotives, hauling conventional passenger rolling stock. The units supplemented the EMD AEM 7s and allowed Amtrak to commence retirement of the GE E60. Amtrak did not purchase the locomotives outright but leased them from Philip Morris Capital. The locomotive's original type designation was HHL 8, for "High Horsepower Locomotive, 8,000 (nominal) horsepower". This was subsequently changed to HHP 8. In conjunction with the Amtrak order, MARC also acquired six HHP 8s, racking up approximately 1,000,000 miles each in service (based on 2009 figure). In 2002, Amtrak's fleet of 15 units was temporarily withdrawn along with the Acela Express trains due to cracks in components of the trucks.

Amtrak's HHP 8s suffered from low reliability. As a result, after only one decade in service, their replacement was considered, concurrent with the replacement of the older AEM 7 locomotive fleet, since a large order for a standardized fleet would have price economies, and the resultant fleet would have lower overall maintenance costs. A replacement fleet of 70 locomotives starting delivery in 2012 was planned, with HHP 8s kept as a reserve in the short term. Amtrak retired its last HHP 8 on February 9, 2015. All units are now stored; to avoid duplicate numbering with ACS 64 units 650–664, Amtrak renumbered its retired HHP 8s to 680–694. Philip Morris sued Amtrak in 2019, alleging that Amtrak had cannibalized eight of the fifteen locomotives for parts, in violation of the terms of the lease. The two parties settled the lawsuit in 2021; the terms were not disclosed. In 2023, Amtrak began testing a former HHP 8 locomotive as a cab car with the aim of supplementing or replacing the existing ex Metroliner cab cars until the Airo fleet arrives.

While reports in 2016 indicated that MARC planned to retire their HHP 8 locomotives and replace them with Siemens Charger locomotives, MARC instead started a refurbishment program for its HHP 8s in 2017. Issues with equipment cooling that kept the HHP 8 locomotives from properly working were addressed. as of 2017, the first HHP 8 reconditioned under this program had been delivered and was undergoing successful testing. as of 2018, the first HHP 8 reconditioned was running for three weeks without major issue (a software issue was corrected in this time). A second HHP 8 was being reconditioned. as of 2018, the second HHP 8 had the most unreliable power control components replaced and was back in service. The remainder of the upgrade on this locomotive was to be done by the end of 2018. MARC planned to upgrade the remaining HHP 8 locomotives in their fleet.