US Railcar

US Railcar's predecessor, Colorado Railcar, ceased operations on 23 December 2008 because of a "major liquidity problem".[2] The business remained closed until July 2009 when a group of investors, part of the Value Recovery Group (VRG), purchased the assets of Colorado Railcar and renamed the company US Railcar.[3] The new company operated as a subsidiary of VRG, with the headquarters of both companies located in Columbus, Ohio.[1]

On 18 February 2010, US Railcar announced that it had formed a joint venture with American Railcar Industries, dubbed US Railcar Company LLC, to better "design, manufacture, and sell Diesel Multiple Units."[1] On 19 November 2010, however, the two companies announced the dissolution of the venture, citing "current market conditions"[4] as the reason. The National Association of Railroad Passengers speculated that the cause of the failure of the joint venture was the cancellation of the proposed 3-C passenger corridor in Ohio.[5]

US Railcar currently operates no construction facilities; any products ordered from the company would be built by American Railcar under contract.[4] The company plans to construct a facility in Gahanna, Ohio, near the John Glenn Columbus International Airport, which would be built with a mix of public and private funds.[6] US Railcar applied for an $8.7 million grant from the federal government, but the application was denied.[6] The state of Ohio has offered the company $3.6 million in financial assistance, and private investment would provide the remainder of the necessary money to build the factory, estimated to cost around $14 million.[7] If constructed, the proposed facility would be around 100,000 square feet (9,300 m²) in size and would be located on thirteen acres (5.3 ha) of land.[8] It would employ up to 200 people.[8]

US Railcar offers diesel multiple units in both single- and bi-level versions, as well as unpowered railcars in single- and bi-level versions.[9] The single-level DMUs have a passenger capacity of 94, while the bi-level models can carry 188 passengers.[9] Both types are equipped with two 600-horsepower (0.45 MW) Detroit Diesel engines for propulsion.[9] The single-level railcars have a capacity of 102 people, while the bi-level cars can seat 218.[9] The company also offers unpowered luxury railcars, dubbed the "Ultradome."[10]

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