CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: May 28, 2008	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

Connecticut Department of Transportation

& Metro-North Railroad Offer Next Opportunity

To View New M-8 Mock-up Rail Car Interior

Customer Input Sought on the Newly Designed Interior

at Stamford Station

The State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and MTA Metro-North Railroad (MNR) will open the M-8 rail car interior to customers who travel in/out of the Stamford Station.  Stamford Station is the second largest intermediate station on the New Haven Line, second only to Grand Central Terminal.

The mock-up will be opened to customers on Thursday, May 29 in the “drop off” along the South State Street side beginning at 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. and in the afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 29^th.  Customers will have one final opportunity to view the mock-up when it travels to Grand Central Terminal in early June.  The date and time is yet to be determined.

The interior mock up is 27 feet long by 11-1/2 feet high by 9-1/2 feet deep, and weighs 16,825 pounds.  Inside the stainless steel container is a recreation of an M-8 interior, with its red, beige and yellow color scheme.  Highlights include high-back seating, a distinctive vestibule area, luggage racks, bathroom, and other amenities.

The M-8 interior also features convenience outlets at every row of seats, seat arm rests in a loop style, and enhanced flip-down seating that easily and quickly converts to a spacious ADA compliant wheelchair area.  Customers will note the open, airy and bright feeling, thanks to improved lighting and addition of curves where possible, giving these cars a distinctive design identity.  After viewing the mock-up, customers will have the opportunity to fill out comment cards.

The M-8 prototypes are scheduled to arrive for testing the second half of 2009.  The current schedule calls for the state to receive 10 rail cars per month starting spring of 2010.  The delivery of new M-8 rail cars will take until mid-2012 for completion of the entire 300 car order.

The interior “mock-up” was built by Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., the M-8 rail fleet manufacturer in Japan this winter, and transported by ship for testing and review.  The ConnDOT and MNR are making the interior mock-up available for customers to view the inside design, color and seat configuration of the M-8 rail fleet.

Come View on Thursday, May 29, 2008

Stewart B. McKinney Stamford Station,

30 Station Place, Stamford

Drop Off Area – South State Street (near Track 5)

Rail Customers may view mock-up from

7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

& 4:00 p .m. – 7:00 p.m.

For further information contact:

Judd Everhart at 860-594-3062 or Kevin Nursick at 860-594-3003