METROLINK BOARD OKS DEAL TO BUY SAFER RAIL CARS.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

A divided Metrolink board voted Friday to award a $305 million contract for rail cars - including cab cars being built with state-of-the-art crash-management technology - to a Korean company breaking into the U.S. market.

The procurement will eventually replace Metrolink's fleet of cab cars with those using technology designed to dissipate the force of a crash throughout the train. The development is being watched by transit officials nationwide, especially after the horrific 2005 Metrolink crash in Glendale that killed 11 people.

Some Metrolink board members sought to postpone the purchase until federal authorities conducted a final test of the technology next month, but the board voted 6-5 to go forward with the contract.

``We don't want to wait another year. We need train cars,'' said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell. ``It's very exciting technology ... We want to do everything we can to assure the safety of our passengers and crew. This to us is a step forward.''

In contracting with Rotem Co., a subsidiary of Hyundai Automotive Group, Metrolink bypassed its longtime relationship with Bombardier Transit Corp., which has built every rail car purchased by Metrolink since the system was created in 1992.

Rotem was the low bidder, coming in nearly $100 million under Metrolink's estimate. Bombardier wanted $388 million, and Kawaski Rail Car, Inc. bid $556 million.

The initial order is for 33 cab cars, due February 2009, and 54 passenger cars due December 2008. An additional 44 cars will be split between Metrolink and a Florida train line.

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com