during the 1985 bidding for emu200, due to various procurement irregularities, the italian socimi carbuilder protested the award. tra chose to use funds from budget year 1986 and place a further order for emu300 with socimi even before all emu200 sets were accepted for service. the further order was intended for extra capacity relief. the carbody was built by socimi in milan, italy, whereas the british firm of brush traction in loughborough supplied electrical equipment. based on the tra four year car equipment strategy, the emu300 was considered a "complication" (節外生枝).