Sumitomo Corporation of America and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. Awarded Contract for 160 Bi-level Electric Passenger Rail Cars for Metra

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitomo Corporation of America in conjunction with its car builder partner Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. were awarded the contract to supply 160 bi-level electric passenger rail cars to Metra, the Northeast Illinois commuter rail system based in Chicago.

The cars for the contract will be similar to the 26 Gallery-Type bi-level electric railcars that were delivered in year 2005-2006.  The cars will accommodate up to 140 passengers per car and replace existing old fleets which have been used by Metra since 1970s.  About half of the new cars will be equipped with bathrooms which will ensure a more comfortable ride for passengers.

The contract price will be $560 million. Delivery is scheduled from the end of 2012 through the middle of 2015.  During execution of past Metra contracts, Sumitomo Corporation of America and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. have consistently met Buy America requirements and used contents and the workforce of Illinois, thereby supporting the creation of local area oriented works.  For this contract, Sumitomo Corporation of America and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd. are committed to a continued enhancement of such contribution to local employment.

The Sumitomo and Nippon Sharyo team have already successfully delivered around 900 passenger cars in the US market since 1980s.  This includes 479 Gallery Type bi-level passenger cars and 26 Gallery Type bi-level electrical passenger cars delivered to Metra and all rolling stock used by Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (85 cars).  This means the Sumitomo/Nippon Sharyo team has supplied the majority of commuter rail cars departing and arriving in Chicago.

Sumitomo has 50 years of contract management experience in bringing transportation systems to life.  As a prime contractor, the company has developed, managed and delivered commuter rail transit systems for Chicago's Metra, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Maryland Department of Transportation, California's CALTRANS Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, the Los Angeles County MTA, the Virginia Railway Express, and has supplied Automated People Mover (APM) systems for the Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Miami International Airport's new North Terminal, and is working on delivering a second APM system for the Airport's MIA Mover.

Sumitomo's global network has been involved in building various types of transit systems around the world, including light rail systems in Manila, Philippines, and APM systems at Hong Kong's new airport at Chek Lap Kok, and other systems in Japan.

About Nippon Sharyo

Nippon Sharyo, founded in 1896, has manufactured railroad vehicles for more than 100 years and has annual sales of over $1.1 billion. A world leader in the manufacturing of the Gallery car, the company also owns the largest market share of Japanese "Shinkansen" bullet train sets.

About Sumitomo Corporation of America

Established in 1952, and headquartered in New York City, SCOA operates offices in 10 American cities. SCOA is the largest wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world's leading traders of goods and services.  As an integrated business enterprise, the firm has emerged as a major organizer of multinational projects, an expediter of ideas, an important international investor and financier, and a powerful force for distribution of products and global communications through a network of offices worldwide.  For more information visit www.sumitomocorp.com.

SOURCE Sumitomo Corporation of America