kawasaki

WMATA/Metro and KRC on Feb. 5 announced their “resolution of several ongoing contract disputes regarding, among other things, the 2021 Blue Line derailment of a 7000-series railcar which led to the entire 7000-series fleet being grounded.” (WMATA 7000-Series railcars, courtesy Wikipedia)

Transit Briefs: WMATA/KRC, NCDOT, PennDOT

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) and Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. (KRC) resolve their 7000-Series railcars disputes. Also, a new North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) study confirms that restoring Salisbury-to-Asheville passenger rail service would benefit the economy, job opportunities, and public transit in the area and the state; and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) advances the Scranton-to-New York Penn Station Passenger Rail Corridor project.

Kawasaki’s R268 cars for New York City Transit will run on the “B” division and be designed with specs similar to its R211 cars (pictured). (MTA Photograph)

Kawasaki to Supply 378 More ‘B’ Division Cars to NYCT

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board has approved the purchase of 378 new Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc.-built R268 rapid transit cars for New York City Transit (NYCT), which will run on the “B” (lettered) division and be designed with specs similar to the those for the R211 cars, according to MTA.

“Let your voice be heard: Vote on the exterior design for Metro’s new 8000-series rail fleet,” WMATA reported Aug. 18. One of the three design options is pictured above. The winning concept will be announced at the end of this month. (WMATA Image)

Transit Briefs: WMATA, TriMet, Denver RTD

Cast your vote for one of three exterior graphic designs for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) new 8000-series Hitachi Rail cars. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) installs more than 700 digital displays networkwide for real-time train and bus alerts; and Denver (Colo.) Regional Transit District (RTD) boosts by 500% rail-system fare checks as part of its security plan.

“Between improved reliability, safety enhancements, and amenities, R211 cars will make a world of difference for G train riders,” MTA NYCT President Demetrius Crichlow said March 4. “The R211 [rapid transit] cars are state of the art and less prone to breakdowns, which means smoother trips and more reliable service for decades to come.” The cars operate with an open gangway; NYCT debuted them on the C line in 2024. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYCT, NJT, LACMTA, Tri-Rail, Fort Worth

The first set of Kawasaki-built open-gangway rapid transit cars is now running on MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) crosstown G line. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) is speeding up efforts to replace windows on all Multilevel commuter railcars in revenue service; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is expanding a pilot program that screens riders for weapons; South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter rail system may face a $90 million annual deficit; and Fort Worth, Tex., eyes a downtown rail system.

IAM’s Organizing Department adds 135-plus rail workers at Alstom’s Plattsburgh, N.Y., facility to its roster. (IAM Photograph)

Transit Briefs: IAM, Caltrain, WMATA

Alstom workers in Plattsburgh, N.Y., voted to join International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Also, California’s Caltrain will move its headquarters to Millbrae; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unveils the newest design for its holiday wrapped train and buses.

MTA Metro-North Railroad will run its first-ever Holiday Lights Train on all three commuter rail lines from Nov. 29 through New Year’s. (Photo: MTA / Emily Moser)

Transit Briefs: Caltrans, NJ Transit, Metro-North, UTA, MDOT MTA

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) receives a federal grant to improve passenger rail service and freight movement in the San Joaquin Valley. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) earns a spot on the Forbes 2025 America’s Dream Employers list; MTA Metro-North Railroad debuts its Holiday Lights Train; Utah Transit Authority (UTA) celebrates 25 years of TRAX light rail service; and Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) launches an online merchandise store.

Pictured: Kawasaki Track Technologies’ locomotive-mounted autonomous track geometry monitoring system. (Photograph Courtesy of Kawasaki)
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BNSF Testing Kawasaki’s LATGMS

BNSF testing is under way of a locomotive-mounted autonomous track geometry monitoring system (LATGMS) from Kawasaki Track Technologies, the supplier reports.

NYCT Unveils R211

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) on Feb. 3 showcased one of the two R211 open gangway subway cars that are currently undergoing testing at the Coney Island Yard in Brooklyn.

The TriMet Board has approved a $1.93 billion FY 2023 budget.

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, SEPTA, Shore Line East, TriMet, Valley Metro

Metrolinx selected Ricardo Certification to perform safety assessments for the GO Expansion project in Toronto; SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) released three options for its Reimagining Regional Rail project; Connecticut’s Shore Line East commuter rail is now operating M8 Electric Multiple Units (EMU); the Board of Directors for Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) approved the FY 2023 budget; and Valley Metro launched its Tempe (Ariz.) Streetcar system.

Kawasaki gets $1.4B MTA subway car order

New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority plans to spend more than $1.4 billion to purchase 535 new subway cars to replace the oldest cars operating on its lettered lines. The initial order with