Lynch at Large

Saw ths press release and knew some of you might be interested.

Stadler Wins Commuter Rail Car Award with Capital Metro

Bussnang, Switzerland - The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors in Austin, Texas this week unanimously approved a rail car contract with Stadler Buss-nang AG, a Swiss company, for the delivery of six GTW articulated rail cars with an option for 12 additional vehicles. The initial contract is worth $32.3 million.

The transit agency is planning its new 32 mile Austin-to-Leander urban commuter rail service to begin in January 2008. Stadler will deliver the first vehicle in the fall of 2007 and the sixth rail car in Spring 2008. "We wanted a rail car that was quiet, environmentally friendly, and compatible with neigh-borhoods," said John Almond, Project Director for Capital Metro Commuter Rail. Stadlers’ rail car fits that description, as well as having a sleek appearance that suits an urban scale."

“Stadler Rail is truly honored to be selected for Austin’s new commuter line. Our design team’s special attention to safety, comfort, and attractiveness, in addition to our renowned operation and maintenance ease proved successful factors in the award. We look forward to building on our New Jersey and Austin successes in the U.S. market,” said Peter Spuhler, owner and CEO of Stadler Rail AG. Capital Metro cited Stadler’s diesel electric propulsion system, designed as a center power module between the passenger cars, as unique in the rail car business, and a key advan-tage for efficient maintenance and operations. In addition, the vehicles have lower levels of noise and vibration than typical commuter rail cars used elsewhere in the U.S.

Each vehicle will be self-propelled by two diesel electric engines, accessible (fully ADA compliant), and will be able to start and stop faster than traditional commuter rail vehicles. The rail cars have a capacity of 225 passengers, 108 seated and 117 standing, as well as spaces for passengers with wheelchairs and bicycles. The rail car communications system includes visual and acoustic passenger information, a video recording system and a wireless LAN infrastructure. About Stadler: Stadler Rail Group specializes in regional and suburban service markets, light regional ex-press railway service, and streetcar vehicles. Stadler’s GTW articulated rail car is very popu-lar in European countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece (for Olympic Games 2004), Austria, Slovakia, Netherlands and Switzerland. To date, Stadler has sold more 390 GTW rail cars internationally. Stadler manufactured and delivered twenty 90-seat GTW design rail cars for service in the U.S. for New Jersey on the Trenton to Camden line in 2003 in a consortium with Bombardier. The Stadler Rail Group, headquartered in Bussnang, Switzerland, employs 1,400 persons in four locations in Europe.