According to the agreement, the shells of the
bi-level cars will be built in Japan, and the remainder of the parts will
be manufactured in the U.S. When MARC's last order of commuter cars was
placed with the Sumitomo Corporation, the cars were assembled in a hanger
at Martin State Airport in Middle River. MARC officials want to ensure
that the assembly takes place in Maryland, to provide jobs for local
workers. The same hanger will probably be used to build the new cars.
Kawasaki Rail won the contract over Sumitomo, which bit $93.7 million, and
Morrision-Knudson, which bid $96.3 million.
The coaches will each seat 147
passengers, about 50% more than current cars, and will feature larger
windows, reclining seats, and reading lamps. The new cars will be 15 feet
tall. Apparently the Penn Line
between Baltimore's Penn Station and Union Station in Washington D.C. will
require some modifications to ensure adequate height clearance, but the
Camden and Brunswick Lines already meet these requirements, due to
double-stack and Superliner traffic.
This information is based on an article which appeared in the
Maryland section of the Baltimore Sun on 22 December, 1994.
Some of the details may have changed since this article was published, and
I will try to update this information as soon as possible. I am also
seeking permission from the Sun to use the drawing of the bi-level
coaches which appeared in this article.
Bi-Level Coaches to Begin Service in 1997
According to a 22 December, 1994 article in the Baltimore Sun, MARC
has signed an $81.1 million contract with Kawasaki Rail Car Inc., a
division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, to produce 50 bi-level coaches for
commuter service. They anticipate gradually putting the coaches into
operation starting in 1997.
