Since its 1979 entry into the U.S. market, Kawasaki Rail Car, the U.S. subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, has delivered more than $12 billion worth of railcars. On Oct. 9, the company marked its 5,000th railcar in this market with an event at its Yonkers, N.Y. plant, where final assembly on most contracts occurs. Kawasaki also operates a carbody fabrication plant in Lincoln, Neb.
Kawasaki has delivered 3,783 railcars of the 5,000 (76%), to transit authorities in the U.S. Northeast:
- 2,456, New York City Transit.
- 474, Metro-North Railroad.
- 336, Long Island Rail Road.
- 517, PATH.
- 266, SEPTA.
- 748, WMATA.
- 140, MBTA.
- 50, MARC.
- 13, VRE.
The company estimates it has awarded 30% of railcar subcontracts to companies located in New York State, nearly 10% of which are DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises).
“During the past four decades, Kawasaki has been a reliable partner to the MTA, manufacturing thousands of reliable cars for our customers,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “The company has been integral to the decades-long turnaround of the subway system. The [proposed $68.4 billion] 2025-29 Capital Plan recently adopted by the MTA Board calls for even greater investment in new subway and commuter railcars.”
“This is an important milestone for Kawasaki,” said Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Yusuke Hirose. “We are proud of our history in working with New York State, the MTA, Westchester County, the City of Yonkers and all our customers and vendors to power the region’s economy and deliver safety, reliability and comfort time and time again. Kawasaki looks forward to serving the MTA regions and transit authorities in the Northeast for many years to come.”
