(Alliance News) - Siemens AG is to supply trains for the first high-speed railway in the US.

The Munich, Germany-based technology company was selected as the "preferred bidder," meaning final contract negotiations are now under way, Siemens announced in the early hours of Thursday.

Specifically, it involves the delivery of 10 trains that will connect Las Vegas and Southern California at speeds of more than 350 kilometres per hour. Travellers should be able to travel from Las Vegas to the Los Angeles area, a distance of about 440 kilometres, in less than two hours.

Several global companies had applied for the tender.

The company is proud to have been selected as the preferred bidder "to build and maintain America's first true high-speed train, the American Pioneer 220," said Siemens Mobility chief executive Michael Peter.

The trains will be "a sustainable alternative to air travel. When it goes into service, it will be one of the most significant moments in the history of American railways."

The train will be a further development of the Velaro platform used in Europe, which is also the basis of the current high-speed intercity trains (ICE).

Provided the contract is successfully concluded, the trains will be built in the US.

Siemens shares fell 1.3% to EUR174.22 each on Thursday afternoon in Frankfurt.

source: dpa