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Hitachi

Social Innovation

Building the First Driverless Rail Transit System in the US

Ansaldo Honolulu, a Hawaii partnership between Hitachi Group Companies, is building rail cars for Hawaii's first public train transportation system. When the system begins operation in 2018, it will be the first driverless rail transit system in the U.S.A.

On May 2, the company unveiled Honolulu’s Train #1 at a ceremony co-hosted with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. A group of 120 VIPs including government representatives and senior executives from Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Rail Italy and Ansaldo Honolulu attended this exciting event. United States Senator Mazie Hirono, the Honorable Sharon Har, Hawaii State Legislature, Honolulu City and County Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Mr. Dan Grabauskas, Executive Director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) all spoke at the ceremony. Toshiaki Higashihara, President and CEO, Hitachi, Ltd., and Maurizio Manfellotto, CEO, Hitachi Rail Italy addressed the audience on behalf of Hitachi as did Enrico Fontana, Managing Director, Ansaldo Honolulu. Mr. Higashihara said that Hitachi was very proud to be part of this project – an endeavor that would provide public transportation by train for the first time in Hawaii.

Hitachi Rail Italy is responsible for the design, manufacturing and testing of 20, 4-car driverless trains for the project, and they were pleased to note that the first train was delivered on time. "Delivering the first train of this new, wonderful metro," said Maurizio Manfellotto, Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Rail Italy, "not only makes us proud of the work done, but also underscores the quality level reached by the company which I have the privilege to lead. We reached this goal thanks to the intellect of the women and men who work every day in our factories, with consistency and dedication, creating trains that deliver world-class performance."

This is just one of the many projects Hitachi is engaged in globally that is improving the way people live and work.

  • Release Date: June 3rd 2016
  • Content By: Hitachi