Research Triangle Park, N.C. –  The Triangle Transit Authority will display a mock-up of the vehicle that TTA intends to use for its 12-station, 28-mile Regional Rail Transit System between Durham, Research Triangle Park, Cary and Raleigh.  The new vehicle from United Transit Systems (UTS) was recently on display at the American Public Transportation Association Expo in Dallas, TX.  

In making the announcement, General Manager John Claflin said, "This ‘sneak-peek’ at a mock-up of the vehicle is another sign that we’re closer to regional rail in the Triangle.  I’d like to invite folks out to see it this Saturday and Sunday while the mock-up is on display.”

The mock-up will be on display in one of the warehouses at Dillon Supply,      230 S. West St., in Raleigh. 

The hours of the display are 10 AM – 3 PM on Saturday, October 15 and             2 PM – 5 PM on Sunday, October 16. 

Information about the mock-up and the regional rail system will be available, along with proposed modifications to the planned rail station in Downtown Raleigh. 

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The rail vehicle, called a diesel multiple unit (DMU), was selected for TTA’s Regional Rail Transit System because it can operate next to freight and Amtrak passenger service.  They are self-propelled, eliminating the need for locomotives or electrification of the rail corridor with an overhead catenary. The technology is cost-effective and the DMU's can be "coupled" together quickly to build trains of varying lengths to efficiently respond to ridership demand.

In May 2005, Sojitz Corporation of America President & CEO Jun Matsumoto and Rotem Company Vice Chairman & CEO Soon-Won Chung signed a design agreement with TTA which allowed UTS to begin limited design and engineering on the prototype on display this weekend. Both have called the new TTA DMU the "flagship vehicle" for United Transit Systems. Once the Federal Transit Administration issues a "Letter of No Prejudice," TTA will sign a contract to build the DMU's. UTS initially will supply 14 DMU's for TTA.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International    Airport, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle and ShareTheRideNC.com, the statewide rideshare matching service.

TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.