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Manufacturer promises swift action to correct problems with Houston light rail cars
Why is anybody surprised? Everybody knows this always happens when government places an order with a company that was propped up by government in order to fulfill a future government contract for something that is mostly obsolete before it is even produced. Water leak? Considering this indicates everything else surrounding the leak is most likely junk workmanship, I recommend generous applications of duct tape, per Red Green.
This is a direct consequence of Buy American protectionist laws and out of touch railcar safety regulations
Houston Metro would have gotten a better and timely bargain at Siemens.
The same old story. Washington DC railcars from CAF were late too due to production problems.
Mr. Hays, your American owned OEM choices are Kenworth; Peterbilt; Navistar International; Autocar and CCC (Crane Carrier Corporation), to name a few.
Mack Trucks doesn’t qualify, as they are owned by Volvo.
My little city (Shelby, MT, pop. 3,300) bought two new garbage trucks recently. One is on a Freightliner (German) chasis, the other on a Volvo (Swedish) frame. We, the residents, had no say in the choice. Dunno, me, if there are any American suppliers that could have done the job.
Problem is, Matthew ALL the U.S. builders have gone out of business since Americans foolishly forsaken rail for other modes of travel. Well, guess what; cheap fuels are gone FOREVER, and the skies have become very unfriendly. Now rail isn’t so bad after all, and for those reasons, travelers are going back to rail. Unfortunately, American HAVE to purchase equipment made by foreign enterprises. Now wouldn’t you rather have work come here to Americans, Matthew or American workers have to make do with Walmart type of employment?
I suppose that’s the last time this company will be used by Houston’s transit authority
There are probably three things keeping American businesses from reentering the market to supply passenger rail cars. First is the question of sustainability of the needed investment. Are we, as a country, ready to commit to the use of passenger rail, or is it a passing fancy, again. Second, taxes that the foreign builders probably avoid, and third, unions. The foreign companies that set up assembly lines here probably can avoid dealing with unions.
why can we not go back to a pcc type car,that were the presidental commision car. the original pcc were designed by railways presidents. once the design was agreed upon they were sent the builders. they were the transit cars of the 30,40,50.
If you bought a Freightliner chassis, it was probobly made in Mt. Holly, NC, or possibly Mexico. Freightliner had an assembly plant in Oregon, but I don’t know if it’s still active. Volvo trucks are made in Greensboro, NC and in Virginia.
Hopefully there is a provision in the contract that will allow for order cancellation if the first vehicles delivered and tested don’t perform as expected.