From today's NY Times:
"A $1.1 billion contract to build 660 subway cars for New York City has run into significant problems, including damage to two car shells during shipment from Brazil and a failure to order parts that must be installed before safety and mechanical tests can begin. The problems were made known this week in a report commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
According to the report, the problems revolve around Alstom, a French conglomerate that was hired in 2002 to build 400 of the cars.
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The other construction company, Kawasaki, has met its contract requirements so far, according to the report. Tests were completed at the manufacturing site in Kobe, Japan, in May, and Kawasaki's 10-car prototype is expected to be delivered by Friday."
www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/nyregion/27subway.html
I guess Alstom is not a very reliable company to work with, esp with the Comet V issue with NJT.