Colorado Railcar Announces First Sale of DMU
First DMU Customer Is the Florida DOT and FRA in a Joint Procurement for a DMU Demonstration Project to be Operated by SFRTA (Tri-Rail) in South Florida

Pompano, Florida March 26, 2004 –Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA formerly Tri-Rail), representing the FRA and Florida DOT in a joint procurement agreement, approved the contract for the DMU Demonstration Project and authorized the acquisition of 3 commuter railcars from Colorado Railcar Manufacturing in Denver, Colorado. The purchase includes the existing single-level DMU, which entered revenue service this past February, the newly-designed double deck DMU and the new double deck companion commuter coach. Production completion date is anticipated to be the end of March 2005.

Heralded as the “Train of the Future” for commuter rail, the DMU had just completed its inaugural nationwide tour when it was called into Florida revenue service. The procurement was initially made possible by the stalwart efforts of Florida Congressman John Mica. Representative Mica was intent on finding a cost-effective commuter transportation solution for his district that could serve as a model for the entire country. The federal appropriation and Florida DOT matching funds were put in place to initiate the project. SFRTA was called on to administer the DMU Demonstration Project.

DMU APTA Tour - The DMU will be on display at the APTA Commuter Rail Conference in Atlantic City, on Sunday April 18, from 2:00 to 5:30 pm EST. On the rail route from its test in Florida, the DMU will make display stops in Pennsylvania, appearing May 14-16 in Pittsburgh, May 15 in Johnstown, Altoona, and Harrisburg, and May 16 in Philadelphia.