IDOT Statement on High-Speed Rail Milestone

                      CHICAGO – September 26, 2012. Illinois Transportation
                      Secretary Ann L. Schneider issued the following
                      statement regarding Illinois railcar manufacturer
                      Nippon-Sharyo / Sumitomo, the intended awardee on a
                      $352 million, multi-state procurement for
                      construction of new passenger railcars. Caltrans, the
                      lead agency on the procurement, has issued a Notice
                      of Intent to Award the railcar contract to Rochelle,
                      Ill.-based Nippon-Sharyo for the construction of 130,
                      bi-level passenger railcars designed to better
                      accommodate passengers and high-speed rail.

                      “Today marks a historic beginning to increased rail
                      equipment manufacturing, assembly and production in
                      Illinois as we move forward on high-speed rail and
                      passenger service upgrades across the state,”
                      Governor Pat Quinn said. “It is good news for
                      Illinois that the intent to award has gone to
                      Illinois-based manufacturing company Nippon-Sharyo.
                      These state-of-the-art passenger railcars will help
                      Illinois and other states across the nation provide
                      faster, safer and more convenient train service to
                      millions of daily travelers, as well as support
                      hundreds of Illinois jobs.”

                      “We congratulate Nippon-Sharyo for submitting a
                      competitive bid on this unprecedented, multi-state
                      procurement of 130 premium, bi-level passenger
                      railcars, which will be essential to addressing
                      ever-increasing transportation needs of the 21st
                      Century,” Secretary Schneider said. “Without Governor
                      Quinn’s leadership and millions invested through the
                      Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, expansion of the
                      railcar industry production in Illinois and the
                      support of hundreds of railcar assembling jobs would
                      not have been possible.”

                      “We commend the successful collaboration of Caltran
                      and the Midwest Coalition in reaching this historic
                      milestone, and allowing high-speed rail and passenger
                      service upgrade plans to move full-steam ahead,”
                      Schneider added.