Sumitomo Corporation of America and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd Expand Share in Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Market with New Award Contract to Supply 6 Additional DMU Cars for Metrolinx

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitomo Corporation of America in conjunction with its car builder partner Nippon Sharyo, entered into an agreement on October 31, 2011 with Metrolinx in Toronto, Canada to execute an option to supply an additional six Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) to the current contract of 12 DMU vehicles which was finalized on March 31, 2011.  

The contract price is $22 million for 6 DMUs and will be for the middle flat-nosed "C-Car", which connects both ends of the slanted nose "A-Cars".  Although Metrolinx will be using these additional 6 cars as a middle car, these "C-cars" can still be operated individually. The vehicles are scheduled for delivery in 2015.

These unique DMU vehicles are new to North America. The vehicles for Metrolinx will meet the stringent Tier 4 emissions standards and will incorporate Crash Energy management (CEM) features that comply and exceed with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements. Final assembly of the cars will take place at the new production facility in Rochelle, Illinois.  Operation of the new facility will start in the 2nd quarter of 2012.

"This new contract from Metrolinx solidifies our expanding share in the DMU Market and invigorates our plans to increase our future presence in the market", said Hideyuki "Hugh" Ninomiya, Director of Transportation Systems at Sumitomo Corporation of America.

These new DMUs will be used for the Air Rail Link (ARL), an express rail link that will connect Pearson Airport with Union Station in downtown Toronto – Canada's two busiest transportation hubs.  The ARL service will be operational by 2015, in time for the Pan Am Games, and will offer a critical transit alternative to the five million car trips that take place every year between these destinations.  

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 transit systems for Chicago's Metra, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the Maryland Mass Transit Administration, California's CALTRANS Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, the Los Angeles County MTA,  the Virginia Railway Express, and will begin delivery to SMART at the end of 2013.  Sumitomo has supplied Automated People Mover (APM) systems for the Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Miami International Airport. 

Sumitomo's global network has been involved in building various types of transit systems around the world, including light rail systems in Manila, Philippines, people mover 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 $1,100 million. A world leader in the manufacturing of the Gallery car, the company also owns the largest market share of Japanese "Shinkansen" bullet train sets. In October 2010, they announced that they will establish their own passenger railcar production facility in Rochelle, Illinois, with startup of operations expected by 3rd quarter 2012.

About Sumitomo Corporation of America

Established in 1952, and headquartered in New York City, SCOA has 10 offices in major U.S. cities, as well as in the major Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.  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