Kawasaki Rebuild Program at Alstom

MBTX 750, 768, & 778 completed their "Dynamic brake testing" down in Rochester this morning. Mass coastal should be bringing them up to Middleborough sometime this week but it may possibly be tomorrow. Test train was MBTX1115, MBTX768D, MBTX750D, MBTX778D, MDTX1529.

What is "dynamic brake testing" on a coach?

It's "dynamic" brake testing which is testing the brakes on the car while in motion (dynamic test as opposed to static test). It's not "dynamic brake" testing as in a dynamic brake system on a locomotive.

Everything that was in testing has rejoined service (750, 753, 768, 775, 778).

All that's left are just the 8 currently at Alstom.

Don’t forget once those return, that will not be all the k cars that will be rebuilt because the 900 series hasn’t been, but I think that’s only 15 years old since they were built around 2005 or so.

Yes, they are. They were built from 2004-06 as far as the 900s are concerned, so in a few years theyll be up for rebuildi ng

Guarantee you that Alstom will be rebuilding those once these batches are complete.

How can you guarantee who will win a bid that hasn't even been approved yet much lest drafted and posted?

Because the Mbta will want to rebuild them to the same specs that the rotems have in terms of the controls and the led signage on the exterior and interior. Anyways we shall see what happens when the time comes.

The whole purpose of the rebuild is to bring the K-cars up to same "standard" as the Rotem fleet and work with the Rotem fleet
they were built without certain options that were "standard" on the Rotems

The primary purpose of the rebuild, aside from overhauling 20-30 year old equipment, is to eliminate the air intake conflict with locomotive exhaust which prohibited them from being coupled directly to the engine in passenger sets. The 900s don't need that update because they were built to that spec. It is certainly reasonable to expect the 900s will be rebuilt when their time comes but there's no way anyone can possibly guarantee it nor who the vendor will be. There is also no compatibility issue with any of the power door enabled equipment and everything on the property is equipped with power doors despite much of the fleet being deactivated.

MBTX 751 & 773 are on NS/Pan Am heading back to Boston. Only 6 more being rebuilt

I wonder if they are going to award a contract for the 900s to be rebuilt once the last of the remaining 700s return. It will be interesting to see whether they rebuild them or if they keep them as it is. I would think they would since those are almost at mid life. If coaches have a 20 year life span, then their midlife has already passed. If it’s more like 30-40, then they have another 4-5 years until then. I forgot what it was exactly but they were built 2005-6.

751 and 773 are now back and in testing