MassDOT’s board of directors has unanimously approved a Chinese rail can manufacturer’s contract to build and deliver 284 new Red Line and Orange Line subway cars.

After recommendations from Governor Deval Patrick and MBTA general manager Beverly Scott, MassDOT’s board voted Wednesday to approve a $566.6 million contract proposed by CNR MA, a joint venture between China CNR Corporation Limited and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd.


As part of the deal, CNR MA plans to build a 150,000-square-foot manufacturing and maintenance facility in Springfield, where it plans to ship the new cars for final assembly. The contract calls for 152 new Orange Line vehicles and 132 new Red Line vehicles, with an option to purchase 58 additional Red Line cars.

CNR MA will build the cars at CNR Corp.’s 53 million-square-foot facility in Changchun before shipping them to Springfield.

Orange Line cars are due in service by winter 2018. The new Red Line fleet is expected on the tracks by fall 2019.

For more information on CNR’s contract, feel free to scroll through the below Staff Summary regarding the T’s recommendation to award the contract to CNR MA.

MBTA Orange and Red Line Cars RFP

Photo via Public Domain

You can read more stories on Boston startups, technology and innovation at https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno