Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. achieved the highest technical and best price rankings, beating other two bidders for the contract Alstom and Bombardier. A total of 748 new 7000 series railcars are to be built to replace the 1000 series — Metro’s oldest cars dating back to the ‘70s, with 64 cars ordered for Phase 1 of the Dulles International Airport Corridor extension.

The WMATA Board is yet to make the decision and award the contract in mid-April.

Kawasaki’s price of $1•48bn was $120m less than the next lowest offer and was based on the total quantity of 748 cars; the initial 364 vehicles would cost $765m. WMATA hopes to have a prototype car delivered by December 15 this year, with the first 64 cars to be completed by April 1 2014.

Delivery of the next 300 cars would start in April 2014 for completion by March 1 2016.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will pay for the first 64 cars that will run on the airport rail link.

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