American Railcar, US Railcar form joint venture
Once established, the joint venture plans to produce railcars on order for public authorities and communities to improve public transit, commuter and regional rail service.
St. Charles, Mo.'s American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARI) and Ohio-based US Railcar LLC (USR) announced the formation of a joint venture — US Railcar Co. LLC (US Railcar Co.) — which will design, manufacture and sell Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs).
US Railcar Co. will be led by President/CEO Michael P. Pracht, a rail industry veteran with extensive experience with the world's rail transportation companies.
ARI will provide US Railcar Co. with its experience in the production of railcars and ARI representatives will comprise half of the board of the joint venture. Representatives of Value Recovery Group Inc. (VRG), which purchased USR assets from the Colorado Railcar Manufacturing Co. (Colorado Railcar) in late 2008. VRG will comprise half of the Board and will bring to the venture government contracting experience.
Once established, the joint venture plans to produce railcars on order for public authorities and communities to improve public transit, commuter and regional rail service.
The US Railcar Co. DMU was prototyped by Colorado Railcar through a demonstration project in 2002 and is currently the only DMU that is fully compliant with Federal Railroad Administration passenger equipment safety regulations as stated in 49 CFR Part 238.
Available in both regional and intercity configurations, the US Railcar Co. DMU is suited for incremental corridor development at speeds from 79 mph to 90 mph.
Platform enhancements currently anticipated include a diesel-electric upgrade, increasing speeds to 125 mph.
More Rail
New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project
Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.
Read More →
LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project
The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.
Read More →
CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
Read More →
LA Metro September Ridership Climbs 3.9%, Led by Rail Growth
The agency recorded more than 27.2 million boardings, with rail ridership increasing 12.4% year over year and the D Line posting the largest gains.
Read More →
First Full MetroLink Rail Expansion Completed in 20 Years with $192M Airport Project
The project links two St. Louis-area airports by light rail while adding roadway and bike trail connections to improve regional access and mobility.
Read More →
Utilimarc Launches SmartReplace to Optimize Fleet Replacement Decisions
AI-powered SmartReplace helps fleets prioritize vehicle replacements, model budget scenarios, and build more defensible long-term strategies.
Read More →
Scenes from APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026
Transit leaders, manufacturers, and industry professionals gathered in Chicago to explore new technologies, share ideas, and discuss the future of public transportation.
Read More →
USDOT Awards $416 Million for Florida Rail Crossing Safety Upgrades, New Brightline Station
The projects aim to reduce risks for motorists and pedestrians at rail crossings while expanding passenger rail access along Florida’s Space Coast.
Read More →
OCTA Declares Emergency to Protect Rail Corridor From Coastal Erosion
The California agency is accelerating shoreline protection and plans to place approximately 690,000 cubic yards of sand along the San Clemente coast to protect a key passenger and freight rail link.
Read More →
More Than a Summer Job: Building the Next Generation of Transit Talent
The Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO have transformed their internship program into a hands-on professional development experience that introduces students to the breadth of transportation careers — and creates a pipeline for future employees.
Read More →