Metrolink in California, US, has unveiled the first of its new fleet of safer rail cars designed to crumple during collisions.
The two Crash Energy Management rail cars were assembled by Korea-based Hyundai-Rotem, according to dailybreeze.com.
The non-passenger areas, such as brake and electrical service closets, vestibules and stairwells, are expected to absorb the main impact of a crash.
The cars are expected to have seats with higher backs, a raised engineer compartment and stronger bumpers.
Metrolink said the cars have redesigned seating, better emergency exits, fire-retardant materials and anti-derailment wheels and suspensions.
The commuter rail system is expected to produce a total of 117 cars, estimated to cost $230m.
The agency claims that the railcars could cut fatalities by 75% in a 35mph crash.
The introduction follows two fatal crashes in the last ten years on the rail system, in which 36 people lost their lives.
