Each Nippon Sharyo DMU is powered by one Cummins QSK19-R diesel engine with hydraulic transmission and regenerative braking, and meets US EPA Tier 4 emission standards. Structurally each DMU is FRA Tier 1 compliant with crash energy management features, making it capable of operating on the same line with standard North American freight trains without the need of special waivers. Braking energy is converted into electricity by the auxiliary power generator, and helps to provide on-board lighting and heating. The DMU is offered in three variants that shared the same mechanical design:
A-car: one aerodynamic gangway-less end with full-width cab, one flat non-cab end with gangway, equipped with one ADA-compliant bathroom
B-car: similar to A-car but with service bar instead of bathroom
C-car: similar to A-car but the aerodynamic end was replaced with a flat end with gangway and cab, so it can be run either as a middle car or an end car of a train
ordered 14 cars in December 2010. Half of the cars were ordered as A-car and the remaining as B-car. In June 2015 SMART received a grant from California State Transportation Agency to purchase 3 C-cars. These would have allowed SMART to use 3 train sets with a third car in the middle. In April 2016, SMART's general manager negotiated with CalSTA and Nippon Sharyo to adjust the order so SMART will receive 2 more full train sets bringing their fleet size to the required 9 needed for service to Cloverdale. The first cars, numbered 101 and 102, were delivered to SMART in April 2015. The final cars from the original order, numbered 113 and 114, arrived in December 2015. The four additional cars, numbered 115 through 118 and assembled in Japan, were delivered to SMART in October 2018.
Union Pearson Express
Seven trains comprise the fleet of Union Pearson Express, grouped into 4 three-car and 3 two-car train sets. Union Pearson Express units feature enclosed overhead luggage bins as required by Transport Canada, and an enhanced enclosed luggage tower. The first cars were delivered to UP Express in August 2014. All 18 cars ordered were delivered and entered service by June 2015.
A July 2016 fire aboard one of UP Express's units revealed a design flaw in the Cummins engine's crankshaft that would severely shorten engine life if not corrected. While Cummins advised that correcting the design flaw could be deferred until engines' mid-life overhaul, SMART chose to have the crankshaft replaced before the service start, as it was also facing delays caused by grade-crossing warning issue and PTC certification. All SMART units had the crankshaft issue correct before the service started in spring 2017. In November 2018, four cars were damaged during shipping in a freight collision while en route to SMART. The agency did not accept the cars as delivered, and Nippon Sharyo dispatched a team to California to assess the damage and plan for repairs.
