A Japanese train manufacturer is by far the lowest bidder to provide trains for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit system.
Sumitomo Corp. of America, which builds cars in partnership with Nippon Sharyo Inc., submitted a proposal of $82.7 million to provide nine three-car trains.
The second-lowest proposal was submitted by Germany-based Siemens, which has a plant in Sacramento, at $104.2 million.
The cars specifications call for seating of 78 passengers per car, storage for 10 to 12 bicycles, overhead storage, permanent and folding tables, reading lights, Wi-Fi and a bathroom in one car and a snack bar in the other.
SMART's staff released the proposal prices on Wednesday, but details of each bid are being withheld pending detailed staff review.
State policies allow SMART to combine the price and technical proposals and then negotiate with the company it believes will offer the best train. Details of the winning bid will be disclosed when the agency makes a final recommendation, scheduled for December.
SMART had estimated that it would spend $80 million to $90 million for nine two-car trains, with a third middle car added later.
That could mean that SMART's initial order could be a third less than the price proposal by Sumitomo, which would be good news for the cash-strapped transit system.
SMART is facing a short-fall in tax revenue because of the recession, which hurts its ability to issue bonds to build the line.
The transit district is now reviewing all construction costs, which had been estimated to be $600 million.
The latest estimate determined that the district was $155 million short of being able to build and open the entire 70-mile line, including a bike and pedestrian path, by the 2014 goal, raising the possibility of staging construction. Final figures are due in November.
Other proposals for cars were submitted by CAF USA Inc. of Spain, $136.7 million; Stadler Rail AG of Switzerland, $124 million, and U.S. Railcar of Columbus, Ohio, $131.5 million. German manufacturer Siemens submitted two proposals, $104.6 million and $121.2 million.
The SMART trains will run in pairs on the system, with 14 stations between Cloverdale and Larkspur, at speeds of 79 mph.
SMART received proposals for two types of vehicles. One would be a heavier car that meets Federal Railroad Administration crash standards and the other a lighter European style car using crash-management technology.
The federal government also has stringent emissions standards and buy America requirements that specify how much of the train must be built in the United States.
The Sumitomo-Nippon Sharyo car is believed to be the heavier car, which is currently not being built.
Nippon Sharyo was one of three manufacturers which made a presentation to SMART directors in June 2009, submitting an artist's concept for a sleek train.
The company now makes train cars for Caltrain on the San Francisco Peninsula, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Virginia Railway Express, Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp., MARC and MTA in Maryland and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
You can reach Staff Writer Bob Norberg at bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.
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