October 17: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

2014:  Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveils the first of 78 new light rail cars for its expanding Metro Rail system.

LAWNDALE, CA – OCTOBER 17: Metro event to unveil the new rail cars that will be used on the expanding Gold and Expo lines on October 17, 2014 at Metro Division 22 in Lawndale, California.

The base order of 78 rail cars is augmented after Metro exercised an option to purchase an additional 97 vehicles for a total cost of $730 million, largely funded by Measure R.

All cars in the base order of 78 are destined for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension to Azusa, and to the Metro Expo line Phase II extension to Santa Monica.  The option cars will be used on the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line and the Metro Blue Line.  The cars are tested on the Metro Green Line as well.

A new Kinkisharyo light rail car being transported from Palmdale to the Metro Green Line for testing.

El Segundo-based Kinkisharyo international, the U.S. arm of Kinki Sharyo Co. LTD of Osaka Japan, was awarded a contract by Metro in August 2012.  The rail cars are partially constructed in Japan and shipped to Kinkisharyo’s facility in Palmdale for final assembly in compliance with Buy America contract provisions.

More information can be found in the October 17, 2014 Metro Press Release and the October 17, 2014 post on Metro’s The Source.