Lincoln continues to “move” people in the heavy populated east coast.
Lincoln’s Kawasaki rail plant won an $886 million contract with Washington D.C.’s Metrorail system for the construction of 428 rail cars. Some 300 of the newly-built cars will be replacing the Metro’s oldest cars, while the remaining 128 will be used for expanding the Metro line to Washington Dulles International Airport. The upgraded rail cars are known as the Series 7000 and will help the Metro fulfill its safety recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board, which was to replace its oldest cars.
The announcement secures additional work for the Lincoln manufacturer, a stalwart of the community for over 30 years. Kawasaki employs some 1,500 people at its Northwest Lincoln location and makes Jet Skis, ATV’s and utility vehicles. The railcar plant was added in the 1990s and has made cars for numerous metropolitan transit services including New York City and now Washington D.C.
Kawasaki executives say the fact that the cars are made in America is great for U.S. job creation and Lincoln provides an affordable area to produce the cars.
“The Lincoln Kawasaki plant is the only rail car plant in the United States that can build cars from the ground up and test on site,” said Mike Boyle, General Manager of Kawasaki. “We have made significant capital and employee training investment in the Lincoln plant to achieve this technical proficiency.”
“Another advantage of building the entire car in Lincoln is that we will purchase more parts in the USA. Kawasaki-built cars will have a higher percentage of U.S. labor in each car compared to our competitors.”
The contract also specifies that the first few cars are to be delivered in 2013 and that all the rail cars are to be in service by 2016.
“This is a tribute to Kawasaki and the workers of the Lincoln plant as well as the local suppliers for these projects,” said Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall. “There is no doubt that the best railcars in the world are produced by Kawasaki and Lincoln workers.”
Additionally, Boyle said the Lincoln plant could be in line for greater opportunities since the President of the United States is pursuing high-speed rail opportunities and Kawasaki is a world renowned maker of high speed rail cars.
“The ‘green’ economy is more than just windmills and solar panels,” Birdsall said. “The commitment to alternative transportation and investments by Kawasaki in Lincoln will provide benefits to our community for years to come.”