COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, Ohio-based US Railcar President and CEO Michael P. Pracht testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials chaired by Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL). Mr. Pracht urged the Subcommittee and the Congress to build on the $8 billion "down payment" for high-speed and intercity passenger rail development approved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last spring, and continue the strong federal leadership essential to the success of high-speed rail in the United States.
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In his testimony, Mr. Pracht emphasized the need to support American manufacturing and American jobs as part of the nation's commitment to improved rail passenger service.
Mr. Pracht described how, in January 2009, a small group of private investors led by Barry Fromm, chairman of Value Recovery Group, Inc. ("VRG") of Columbus, Ohio acquired the assets of Colorado Railcar Manufacturing which produced self-propelled Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger railcars with ten units operating in revenue service today. US Railcar plans to resume manufacturing these American-made passenger railcars in the United States.
Mr. Pracht stressed the advantages of the US Railcar DMU platform, noting that unlike other DMUs operating elsewhere in the world, the US Railcar DMU is the only design that fully complies with Federal Railroad Administration equipment safety standards. The US Railcar DMU also offers operational flexibility for use in both regional commuter service and intercity passenger rail applications, plus environmental and energy benefits compared with traditional locomotive-hauled consists resulting from matching equipment capacity to service requirements. US Railcar plans to manufacture these new DMUs in both single-level and bi-level versions.
Mr. Pracht asked the Subcommittee to support the Ohio Rail Development Commission's application for federal grant funding to develop a railcar manufacturing faculty in Gahanna, Ohio; stressed the need for federal high-speed rail research and development and passenger railcar equipment standardization; and urged consistent enforcement of Buy America standards. Mr. Pracht also emphasized the importance of a sustained, dedicated federal funding source to support high-speed and intercity passenger rail development in the United States and to enable a steady stream of vehicle orders.
The US Railcar DMU is uniquely suited for commuter, regional and intercity rail passenger service, making this American-made DMU an ideal solution for both mature and emerging passenger rail agencies around the country.
Michael P. Pracht, is a 30 year veteran in the rail industry with extensive past management experience at two of the world's leading rail transportation companies, Siemens and Ansaldo.
For more information about US Railcar and the DMU please check our website at www.usrailcar.com or contact us at 614-246-9465.
SOURCE US Railcar, LLC
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