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Yesterday, U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari spoke to Midwest-based rail industry manufacturers and suppliers at a Chicago rail forum organized to highlight business opportunities in the growing market for next-generation, American-made trains.

Porcari addressed the Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Connectivity Forum, which was hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The event was organized to introduce suppliers to U.S.-based manufacturers likely to bid on nearly $800 million in upcoming next-generation train orders, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) officials said in a prepared statement.

The USDOT partnered with MEP to help manufacturers identify U.S. businesses that can supply train components that meet “Buy America” standards.

The first order of next-generation trains will run through the Midwest network and other corridors throughout the country, USDOT officials said. Midwestern states are advancing a plan to connect their largest cities to Chicago with faster and more reliable service.

“When we invest in transportation, we are preparing our infrastructure to meet the demands of moving a growing population, and manufacturers have a key role to play in that process,” Porcari said. “We are investing in more than trains, tracks and ties. We are investing in a future in which businesses flourish, and in which America is poised to compete and win.”