Chinese train manufacturer wins US metro deal

CRRC is the only qualified provider of metro trains to meet the MBTA's requirements. [Photo/Agencies]

A metro project evaluated at $270 million in the US state of Massachusetts has been awarded to CRRC Corp, a conglomerate formed by the merger of China's top two high-speed rail makers, China North Railway (CNR) and China South Railway (CSR). A total of 134 trains will be purchased for the project, according to a Caixin report on Jan 10.

An insider disclosed that the contract was signed between CRRC and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in December 2016. CRRC is the only qualified provider of metro trains to meet the MBTA's requirements. As a result, the MBTA decided not to solicit additional bids, the insider said, emphasizing that the decision was entirely legal.

China North Railway (CNR) won a contract worth $567 million for the Boston metro in October 2014, necessitating the purchase of 284 trains, according to earlier reports. This marked China's first batch of rail transit equipment to enter the US market.

The 134 new trains will be put into operation in 2023, according to the Boston Globe. Jeffrey Gonneville, CEO of the MBTA, said the vehicles are expected to cut intervals between trains from between four and five minutes to just three. This change will facilitate the transport over 10,000 passengers per hour.