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Motor Coach Industries (MCI) and IAM Lodge 1953 officials representing Winnipeg, Canada assembly plant workers reached an agreement on a three-year contract that will recognize employees for their skills, contributions and service, while maintaining the assembly operating flexibility needed in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Securing the contract is a key milestone, enabling MCI to continue its plan to successfully emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, which it plans on exiting in late March, according to the company.

MCI also announced that Toronto’s GO Transit took delivery of 19 D4500s and 2 Hybrid commuter coaches.

The two MCI Hybrid commuter coaches represent a step toward GO Transit's Strategic Plan, GO 2020, which calls for the agency to serve as an environmental role model and reduce the carbon footprint of its passengers. Based on MCI’s D-Series coaches, the Hybrid coach is equipped with a smaller clean-diesel Cummins engine and an Allison Electric Drive Propulsion System. GO Transit's 19 new D4500s are powered by clean-diesel engines and Allison transmissions.

GO Transit's new coaches feature 57 comfortable, forward-facing seats; overhead airflow controls; reading lights; and other comforts designed to attract suburban and other distance commuters.