I agree with you about the MPI MP36s. I had the opportunity to see some up close for the first time last Friday when I was down in Fullerton and L.A., Calif. Metrolink is operating some on its regional network and I was able to photograph several. They have very clean lines compared to other passenger power.

As far as cars go, I could see builders such as Bombardier (Superliners and Acela) and Alstom (Acela) trying their hand again in the market. Bombardier still has their plant in Barre, Vt., where they built the Superliner II and Acela Express cars, but they would have to re-open it. They also have a Thunder Bay, Ont. plant where they build their regional rail bilevels.

Other manufacturers that could make a bid include Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo International and Sumitomo. All three have built bilevel cars for regional rail operations in the U.S.