History of Rolling Stock Business

Through the manufacture of rail cars, we maintain harmony with our environment and promote the creation of new values for forming an abundant and beautiful world for our future. Kawasaki group has set its sights on growing as a corporation by contributing to its customers and society on a global scale by applying the philosophy of MONOZUKURI or "the art of manufacturing."
Since its inception, Kobe Head Office has produced some 90,000 rolling stock. By adhering to the principles of MONOZUKURI, Kawasaki has diligently pursued innovation and transformation so that its unmatched technology and products will continue to make history.


1896

Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd. incorporated.


1906

Hyogo Works established as a branch works of Kawasaki Dockyard; rolling stock manufacturing begins.


1907

Completion of 3 electric-drive wooden coaches.


1911

Our first steam locomotive No. 6704.


1928

Hyogo Works incorporated as Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


1934

Pashina-type steam locomotive No. 979 manufactured as our 1500th steam locomotive.


1936

Streamlined Moha 52type 4-car train delivered to the Ministry of Railways.


1945

Production stopped just before the end of the war due to bombing damage caused to the works Production resumed in September.


1957

Type 3000 8-car electric train delivered to Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.


1958

''Business Express Kodama'' 8-car train delivered to the Japan National Railways.


1962

Type 2000 aluminum-alloy train, the first of its kind in Japan, delivered to Sanyo Electric Railway Co., Ltd.


1964

Series 0 Shinkansen electric train delivered to the Japanese National Railways.


1969

Kawasaki Rolling Stock Mfg. together with Kawasaki Aircraft merged into Kawasaki Heavy industries, Ltd.


1970

The first rubber-tired guideway subway train in Japan delivered to Sapporo Municipal Transportation Bureau.


1980

Kobe Portliner, the first automated guideway transit system in Japan, is delivered to Kobe New Transit Co., Ltd.

Streetcar delivered to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first Japanese cars built for North America.


1983

325 R62 subway cars delivered to New York City Transit Authority (NYCT).


1985

U.S. subsidiary established in Yonkers, New York.


1986

The Yonkers Plant was established on the outskirts of New York and started operations.


1988

Type 6K AC Electric locomotives delivered to the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.


1989

C151 mass rapid transit (MRT) cars delivered to Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore.


1990

Series 300 trial trains for Tokaido Shinkansen delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Bi-level commuter coaches delivered to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston, Massachusetts.


1994

Series E1 all bi-level electric train for Tohoku and Jyoetsu Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).


1996

Series 500 Shinkansen trains delivered to West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

Memorial ceremony for 100 year anniversary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. was held (90 year anniversary for Hyogo Works).


1997

Prototype bi-level commuter coach for MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) delivered to the United States.

Series 700 Shinkansen trains delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Series E4 Shinkansen trains delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Order for 520 R142A subway cars received from New York City Transit (NYCT).


1998

Order for 212 R143 subway cars received from New York City Transit (NYCT).

Order for 66 C751B MRT cars received from Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore.


2001

New Rail Car Manufacturing Facility established at KMM Lincoln Plant in Nebraska.


2002

Hyogo West Plant is completed and starts parts production.


2004

Order for 480 units of EMU (200km/h) received from the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.

Began delivery of 700T trainsets to Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporarion (THSRC).


2005

Advance production cars of Series N700 Shinkansen trains delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Joint venture established for rolling stock engineering in China. Established Qingdao Sifang Kawasaki Rolling Stock Technology Co., Ltd.


2007

Completed construction of new general office building, the "Rolling Stock Main Office".

Completed SWIMO-X, prototype of Kawasaki’s battery-powered low-floor LRV.


2008

Advance production cars of Series N700-7000 for Sanyo Shinkansen delivered to JR West.


2009

Advance production cars of Series E5 for Tohoku Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Kawasaki completed its 1,000th electric locomotive.


2010

Advance production cars of Series E6 for Akita Shinkansen delivered to JR East.

Order for 428 Series 7000 railcars received from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).


2011

Signed a contract jointly with Alstom Transport S.A. of France and CTCI Corporation of Taiwan to provide the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government (DORTS) with a railway system for the Taichung City Government.


2013

Kawasaki Develops World's First Rolling Stock Bogie with a CFRP Frame and Suspension Function, efWING.

Order for 92 M-9 Passenger Cars received from Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad (MNR), both affiliated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).


2014

Singapore's Land Transport Authority Orders 364 MRT Cars for New Line.

Series E7/W7 Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West).


2016

TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).


TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE delivered to West Japan Railway Company (JR West).


2017

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM) based in Lincoln, Nebraska achieved the manufacturing milestone of 2,000 railcars.


Technology Collaboration Agreement signed with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to cooperate manufacturing stainless steel trains in India.

Order for 144 MRT cars and maintenance depot equipment for the first MRT system in Bangladesh received from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), jointly with Mitsubishi Corporation.


History of Kawasaki

History
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