The MassDOT board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $566 million contract with a Chinese company to build new subway cars in Springfield.
CNR Changchun, the world’s largest maker of transit railcars, submitted the lowest of six bids to build 248 new subway cars to replace decades- old vehicles on the MBTA’s Red and Orange lines. The company will build a new $50 million factory in Springfield. MassDOT head Richard Davey said the deal is about getting people to work in Boston and putting people to work in Springfield.
" It is the proverbial 'win-win'," said Davey. " Good for the west and good for the east."
The deal is forecast to create 250 new construction and manufacturing jobs in Springfield. A CNR spokesperson said Springfield would be the base for the company’s North American business.
