Southern California commuter train system to unveil new crash-resistant passenger cars

Calif. train line to unveil crash-resistant cars

COLTON, Calif. — Southern California’s commuter rail service is preparing to show off new crash-resistant train cars that will replace most of its older cars.

The cars, which feature “crush zone” technology to absorb impact in a crash, will be unveiled Monday at Metrolink’s maintenance facility in Colton.

Metrolink began considering using the technology after a 2005 crash in suburban Glendale that killed 11 people. Another crash in 2008 in the San Fernando Valley killed 25 people and unleashed a second wave of concern about Metrolink safety.

Metrolink hopes to have 117 cars ready by next year.

The $229 million fleet is being built by Rotem, a division of Hyundai, in South Korea.