New CEO Ushers in Era of Enhanced Safety, Service, Efficiency and Environmental Stewardship
LOS ANGELES, CA, May 3, 2010 – Today, Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse, Metrolink CEO John Fenton, and a distinguished group of leaders showcased the commuter rail system’s first two Crash Energy Management (CEM)-enabled cars and previewed the interiors of these premiere safety-focused vehicles. Delivered in February from their manufacturing site in Korea, they are the first of 117 cars the Southern California Regional Rail Authority will put into service later this year after a rigorous testing program. Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature a unique collision-absorption technology.
“As the latest technological addition to our multifaceted public safety program, these new CEM cars will help save lives,” said Millhouse. “They were developed in strong collaboration with the world’s leading vehicle safety experts who share our commitment to passenger safety. We greatly appreciate their innovative work to enhance the safety of our passengers, train crews and busy regional transportation network.”
The cars have a unique set of design features to enhance passenger and crew safety while increasing passenger comfort. These include:
- Crush zones that absorb impact at each end of the cars
- Enhanced bumpers to absorb, balance and dissipate force from an impact
- Couplers that absorb energy and help to keep cars in line and upright
- Work tables designed to dissipate the force of a collision
- Reconfigured seat placement in each car
- Comfortable seats, with higher seat backs
- Illuminated and marked pathways and exits
- An elevated train operator compartment
- Preinstalled inward and outward facing video cameras
- Stainless steel exterior
The event also featured the first public address by CEO, John Fenton, who was appointed to the agency’s top post last month. Speaking from Metrolink’s new Inland Empire Eastern Maintenance Facility (EMF) – where most of the work for final assembly will be done in accordance with the “Buy America” program – Fenton laid out his forward-looking vision for the rail agency. “Metrolink has an exciting future. Safety will always be our number one value and we are setting a higher benchmark for public safety by continuing to harness cutting-edge technology and innovation.”
Fenton continued, “Moving forward, we will also adopt new practices to reinforce our value through new initiatives in customer service, efficiency, environmental and financial stewardship. Together with our employees, contractors, labor leaders, regulators such as the Federal Railroad Audministration and California Public Utilities Commission and the communities we serve, we can position Metrolink as the gold standard for commuter rail transportation across the nation. Today’s unveiling of the CEM cars is an important milestone on that path to excellence.”
Millhouse and Fenton acknowledged some of the partners in attendance who helped bring this important technology to Southern California. They included: CEM car manufacturer Hyundai-Rotem for providing world-class railway vehicle design and production; the Federal Railroad Administration; U. S. Department of Transportation; The Volpe Institute; and the American Public Transportation Association for their participation and leadership in advancing safe transportation.
The work to assemble the cars at EMF will result in expedited training, quicker access to the cars, the extension of more than 50 jobs and the opportunity to start working to ready the cars for Positive Train Control in accordance with the agency’s accelerated strategy to bring this technology to Southern California.
Procurement of the cars began more than five years ago when Metrolink contacted the Volpe Institute and the Federal Railroad Administration in order to collaborate with them in incorporating this collision absorption technology into the agency’s cab and passenger fleet that was already on order.
The CEM program now enters the critical testing phase, which is the most essential part of the procurement. Any elements in need of modification will be identified and corrected during this phase, which will assist in indentifying those that do not meet the highest standards from showing up in the entire production run. This will ultimately save time and money, produce a much higher quality product from the start, expedite the successful final testing and acceptance of the cars here in the U.S., and help ensure a successful introduction into regular train service.
