Kawasaki is already "here" and very interested.

"This is a high visibility project and Kawasaki has many years of experience manufacturing high speed rail," Mike Boyle, Lincoln plant manager, said in an email. "We are interested and currently studying the specifications to see whether or not this project fits in our wheelhouse."

Amtrak, in its announcement, said the goal of its purchase is “to identify whether established high-speed rail equipment manufacturers have service-proven designs that can meet both the short-term needs of Amtrak and the long-term operational needs of the Authority and Amtrak with little or no modification.”

Amtrak said it hopes the “joint procurement” will result in “lower unit acquisition and life-cycle costs for both Amtrak and the Authority, while helping expand the U.S. role in high-speed rail equipment manufacturing.”

Only existing high-speed-rail equipment manufacturers with equipment in operation for at least two years are eligible to submit a bid, Amtrak said. Bids are due May 17.

A winning bidder will be selected this year, Amtrak said.

Most recently, Kawasaki has delivered new passenger train cars from Lincoln to the Metro-North passenger rail system that serves Connecticut from New York City, and to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

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