Now, these are going to make quite a bar one day.
From WMATA:
“Metro selected Hitachi Rail Washington LLC (“ Hitachi Rail ”) to build the system’s 8000 series wagons in the USA. The contract, valued at about $ 2.2 billion, includes a basic order for 256 cars, with options to build up to 800 in the fleet. The project should generate direct and indirect jobs in the region.
“We are excited about this critical investment in railcars and safe and reliable services for metro customers, made possible through the region’s dedicated funding commitment,” said Chairman of the Board, Paul C. Smedberg. “The capital investments that we are making in our transit system also support our business, our environment and our quality of life in the region of the national capital.”
Metro 8000 series cars will enhance the design and features of the new fleet of 7000 series cars, the most reliable in Metro history. The basic order, which includes state-of-the-art safety technology and mechanical design, will replace the old Metro 2000 and 3000 series wagons, which have been in service since the early 1980s and were designed to be “backwards compatible” with those of the Metro 1970s era design.
“The 8000 series wagons will modernize the Metro fleet with Hitachi building on the success of the newest 7000 series wagons to provide reliable, comfortable and safe transportation for our region and contribute to the local economy,” said general manager / Metro CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “The new wagons will take everything customers love about the 7000 series and incorporate the latest technologies and features that will serve hundreds of millions of passengers over the car’s 40 years of life.”
REINVESTION IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
The 8000 series wagons are financed using new dedicated revenue streams established by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. In recognition of the region’s commitment to Metro’s long-term future, Metro has structured the acquisition process to encourage the reinvestment of local tax dollars in the regional economy. Hitachi is exploring locations in the region with plans to add an assembly plant for the 8000 series wagons that will result in direct and indirect local jobs and return Metro’s investment to the local economy.
“Today, it is our privilege to help one of the country’s leading transit agencies prepare their fleet for the future,” said Andrew Barr, CEO of Hitachi Rail Group. “For Hitachi Rail, our company’s business growth translates into direct and indirect jobs in the United States. Other capital investments in assembly and manufacturing in the region will supply the growing US rail market to meet growing demand. We also believe that our downstream supply chain offers considerable opportunities for a number of companies to participate. We value diversity in the workplace and in the market. “
Although there are no American passenger car manufacturers, Metro has included aggressive targets in its request for a proposal to secure investment in local suppliers.
THE 8000 SERIES EXPERIENCE
The 8000 series will further improve the on-board experience for customers with more digital screens and real-time information, dynamic maps, electrical outlets to charge personal devices and additional handstands throughout the interior.
In addition, the new cars are based on Metrô and Hitachi’s shared commitment to sustainability. The cars are designed to be lighter, safer and more energy efficient, with improved regenerative braking technology, improvements to the ventilation system, high-definition cameras and strict cybersecurity requirements to increase security.
Hitachi Rail was selected through a competitive acquisition process. Hitachi Rail’s current operational footprint in the US includes wagon assembly plants on the east and west coast, as well as a plant dedicated to signaling solutions in the Carolinas. Hitachi is currently building wagons for transit systems in Baltimore, Honolulu and Miami. “