Oklahoma City eyes Inekon, Brookville options
Written by Douglas John BowenPrague, Czech Republic-based Inkeon Group a.s., appears to be the frontrunner among four streetcar suppliers bidding for Oklahoma City's MAPS 3 project, with Brookville Equipment Corp. still a factor as well.
The four companies submitted a total of seven proposals, including four by Brookville Equipment Corp., two of which will also be evaluated by a nine-member committee, according to local media.
China’s XEMC appears to have submitted a bid even lower than Inekon’s bid of $22 million for five streetcars, but it has no track record within the U.S. By contrast, both Inekon (with Pacifica Marine for Seattle) and Brookville (for Dallas) are manufacturing streetcar equipment for U.S. locales.
Inekon’s Trio streetcar is a dual-power vehicle with batteries providing up to one half-mile of wireless operation. Brookville’s Liberty streetcar submission also offers dual-mode capability. Oklahoma City seeks such capability for a portion of right-of-way traveling underneath a railroad viaduct.
Oklahoma City also received bids earlier this month from a fourth vendor, CAF USA to supply the initial 4.6-mile, 22-station route. Sources earlier this month told Railway Age the contract could include an option for eight additional streetcars, an option now affirmed by local media as well.
