Kinkisharyo Cars Enter Gold Line Service

The Metro Gold Line extension opened Saturday using rail cars manufactured in Palmdale by Kinkisharyo International. The El Segundo-based U.S. arm of Kinki Sharyo Co. Ltd. of Osaka delivered 21 cars for use on the Gold Line extension operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Metro, and for integration testing on other lines. The extension has stations serving Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte/City of Hope, Irwindale, Azusa and APU/Citrus College. Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said that Kinkisharyo went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the success of the opening of the extension. “The on‐time and high‐quality delivery of these rail vehicles are an outstanding example of a true partnership between Metro and Kinkisharyo,” Washington said in a prepared statement. Kinkisharyo opened its Palmdale assembly plant in 2014 in buildings leased from Los Angeles World Airports to produce a total of 235 cars to be delivered over the life of the contract with Metro. When fully operational, the assembly line will be able to produce one rail car a week. Kinkisharyo cars will be used on the extension of the Metro Expo line opening in May.