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Testing and storage tracks have been laid at a western Massachusetts factory under construction to fulfill the MBTA’s order for a new fleet of Orange and Red Line cars.
CRRC, a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer, is building a $95M, 204K SF facility in Springfield. The project is the largest industrial project the city has seen in decades. The test track will mimic Boston’s subway infrastructure with the same 600 volts of DC electricity powering its third rail, Mass Live reports. CRRC chose to build in the region after it was awarded a $566M contract in 2014 to build 284 Red and Orange Line train cars.
The deal required the cars be manufactured within the state, and the measure has spawned a train manufacturing industry. The factory has been deemed a success before opening, as the company has won several more transit contracts in the United States.
The MBTA placed a $277M order for another 120 Red Line cars from the company in December 2016. Los Angeles awarded the company a $178M contract for 64 subway cars, and Philadelphia’s transit system made a $138M deal to manufacture 45 double-decker train cars at the Springfield site.
The factory is expected to have an opening event in fall 2017 with train manufacturing commencing at the beginning of 2018.
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