US-based commuter railroad Metra is to reissue a request for proposals (RFP) for new railcars after it received only one response to its initial RFP.

The new bid will be opened later this year to manufacturers of alternative car designs with lower, platform-level boarding, as well as side-loading door configurations, heated floors and charging outlets.

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Metra’s initial railcar RFP was issued to add 75 new gallery railcars with an option to buy additional cars depending on the responses and the amount of funding available.

“Opening up our request to alternative designs will foster competition between more car builders, which will result in better pricing, a more modern car and better experience for our customers.”

CRRC Sifang America was the only respondent to the bid, following which Metra decided to issue a new RFP.

Metra CEO and executive director Jim Derwinski said: “Opening up our request to alternative designs will foster competition between more car builders, which potentially will result in better pricing, a more modern car and a better experience for our customers.”

With the new bid, Metra aims to increase the seating capacity of its cars since the existing yard space and platform length limit the number and length of trains that can operate.

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Increasing the seating capacity is part of Metra’s strategy to meet increased ridership demand.

Metra said it will consider railcars with lower, platform-level boarding to offer enhanced services to physically challenged customers and families with strollers when boarding and detraining. It will also consider other cars with side-loading door configurations that could help reduce the passenger boarding and exiting time, as well as speed up train journeys.