NEWS National Railroad Passenger Corporation Amtrak Intercity 210 South Canal Street Chicago, Illinois 60606-5715 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATK-96-166 August 20, 1996 Contacts: Marc Magliari, Amtrak Intercity 312-655-1338 Wendy Ruch, Adtranz 412-655-5335 AMTRAK HOSTS UTAH AND COLORADO DISPLAYS OF DANISH FLEXLINER TRAIN CHICAGO -- The Danish-built, high-tech Flexliner passenger train will be displayed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Grand Junction and Denver, Colo., after successful demonstration runs on the West Coast. Invited guests, the news media and the general public will tour the Flexliner at a series of events, Aug. 20-24. Amtrak, in cooperation with international manufacturer Adtranz, is participating in a two-year demonstration tour of the Flexliner, a Danish-built, high-tech passenger train that has been operating in European rail service since 1990. During the tour, Amtrak plans to demonstrate to Americans an example of a unique type of passenger rail equipment being used successfully in Europe which might eventually be used in the United States for short-to-medium-distance intercity markets. The Flexliner operated in California for one month with several special excursions, stationary equipment displays at various Amtrak stations and regularly-scheduled Amtrak San Diegan service between Los Angeles and San Diego. The Flexliner will be on public display in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 20, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. as part of a VIP reception at the Amtrak Station in the Denver Rio Grande and Western Building, 3rd South and Rio Grande Street. There will be a VIP and news media reception with the Flexliner in Grand Junction on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and a public display of the train on Thursday, Aug. 22, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., at the Amtrak Station, 339 South First Street. There are three events in Denver. On Friday, Aug. 23, there will be a news media open house from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and VIP reception from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Denver Union Station, 17th and Wynkoop Streets. On Saturday, Aug. 24, there will be a public display of the Flexliner from 1:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. - more - - 2 - ATK-96-166 As its name implies, the Flexliner is versatile and is designed to serve a variety of local and regional travel markets with a combination of comfort, efficiency and speed. Unlike conventional intercity trains, the Flexliner is self-propelled and does not require a locomotive. The Flexliner trains are operated by qualified engineers who are positioned at either end of the train in a control booth which emulates a locomotive operating panel. The bi-directional train's technology, including its unique "front system," allows individual trains to join (couple) and separate (uncouple) within minutes -- even while the trains are moving at low speed. This technology enables multiple trains leaving a station as one modular trainset to be quickly uncoupled to form two or more trains traveling to different destinations. The Flexliner is manufactured with either diesel or electric operating capability. As further evidence of its flexibility, the Flexliner computer technology enables diesel and electric units to run as one continuous train without affecting performance. This feature allows the same ride quality on intercity, regional or local rail lines whether electrified or not. The Flexliner tour train set is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) which includes two three-car Flexliner trains. Throughout the tour, Amtrak will demonstrate the Flexliner's unique coupling and bi-directional operation systems. Though operational flexibility is the train's most notable feature, the Flexliner also was designed with the customer in mind. The interior features airy compartments with wide aisles and panoramic windows, large, reclining seats with at-seat audio systems, electronic display systems for train schedules and routes, a public cellular phone, outlets for laptop computers, ample storage space and access for persons with disabilities. "Amtrak is proud to participate in the Flexliner tour," said Thomas M. Downs, Amtrak President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This type of advanced technology embodies Amtrak's vision for 21st century American rail service. It is an example of our interest in working with equipment manufacturers to demonstrate new technologies in the American market. "The Flexliner is one of several types of high-tech rail equipment that could be purchased for American regional passenger rail service if Amtrak had a dependable level of capital resources that a dedicated trust fund would deliver," added Downs, referring to proposals that would establish a dedicated capital trust fund for Amtrak to invest in new equipment and modernize its system. - more - - 3 - ATK-96-166 "The Adtranz Flexliner is the perfect solution to the increasingly complicated challenges of regional transportation," said Raymond T. Betler, president of Pittsburgh-based Adtranz North America. "The Flexliner is the most modern diesel train available in revenue service today that can be adapted for a multitude of uses and situations. "Adtranz is excited about this tour and we believe Amtrak's local, regional and state partners will enjoy a glimpse of a new generation of rail travel." There are approximately 200 Flexliner trains operating in Denmark, Israel, and Sweden. Spain will soon begin using the Flexliner. In European service, the Flexliner operates at speeds up to 112 mph. During its North American tour, the Flexliner will not exceed 90 mph. After Flexliner's demonstrations and displays, the train will be demonstrated by VIA Rail Canada for five months in Canada before its return to the United States. Amtrak and Adtranz are continuing to develop the two-year tour schedule and interested local, state and regional transportation officials are encouraged to inquire about possible Flexliner demonstration opportunities in their regions. Adtranz is a 50/50 joint venture combining the worldwide transportation business of ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. and Daimler-Benz. The company is a complete global provider of transportation products, systems and services, especially passenger rail systems, automated guideway transit systems and automated train control systems. # # #