 With construction of the Mass Rapid Transit system underway in 1983 , Contract 151 called for the procurement of rolling stock — 150 cars in Phase One and an option for 246 cars in Phase Two . In what Financial Times described as " a time when manufacturers were begging for orders " for the global rolling stock market , competition for the contract was intense . At least eight companies from around the world submitted bids for what they had nicknamed the " Big One " . Bidders included Metro @-@ Cammell with Singapore Automotive Engineering , Kawasaki Heavy Industries with three Japanese manufacturers , MAN AG with AEG , Siemens and Brown , Boveri & Cie , Francorail with Alsthom @-@ Alantique , SOFRETU and Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering , ASEA with Sembawang Shipyard , and a Bombardier Transportation @-@ led consortium with Hawker Siddeley Canada and Brown Boveri Canada . 
