A Chinese company has purchased property in Springfield, Massachusetts where it plans to build a factory to make passenger rail cars.
A U.S. subsidiary of Changchun Rail Vehicles paid $12 million for the 40 acre industrial parcel in Springfield, where it plans to build a $60 million factory according to spokesperson Lydia Rivera.
"This is an exciting time. It is a huge milestone. The site is leveled, cleared and ready for construction," she said.
Production at the plant is scheduled to begin in 2018.
The company, last year, was awarded a $566 million contract from the MBTA to build 284 new subway cars. A lawsuit has been filed against the state by several unsuccessful bidders seeking to overturn the contract award for the new rail cars.
