Metrolink OKs Deal to Buy 87 Safer Cars

Board members for the Metrolink commuter rail service on Friday approved a $177-million contract to buy passenger cars equipped with the latest crash safety technology.

The board voted 6-5 to accept a bid from Korea’s Rotem Co., which has agreed to supply 54 passenger cars and 33 cab cars. Metrolink, which serves six counties in Southern California, is scheduled to receive the first of these cars in December 2008.

Cab cars are passenger coaches with an engineer’s position in front. Their safety became an issue in January 2005, when a Metrolink train with a cab car in front struck a motor vehicle on the tracks and derailed. Eleven passengers died and 180 were injured.

Metrolink officials say the coaches will be the first U.S. commuter rail cars to use “crash energy management” technology.

The measures include shock-absorbing frames to cushion the impact of collisions, and couplers designed to prevent passenger cars from jackknifing. Devices also will be installed to stop cars from rising off the tracks if they collide with motor vehicles or train cars.