SPRINGFIELD, MA—Construction has commenced on China Railway Rolling Stock Corp.'s $95-million rail car manufacturing plant. The facility will be used to manufacture Orange and Red Line subway cars.

In 2014, CRRC was awarded a controversial $566-million contract from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to design and manufacture 284 Orange and Red Line vehicles. The contract includes the purchase of 152 new Orange Line vehicles and 132 new Red Line vehicles.

Construction will begin in spring of 2016 with completion scheduled for fall of 2017. Full rail car production at the new plant will begin in spring of 2018 with the first production cars completed in January 2019.

"We have an exciting road ahead as we embrace this unique opportunity to partner with Massachusetts on our first transportation project in the United States," said CRRC vice president Weiping Yu. “We look forward to the success of this project and enhancing our vision of building further partnerships in the transportation sector."

A groundbreaking ceremony was staged last week and was attended by Springfield officials, CRRC executives as well as Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. The project, which will restore an historic Westinghouse building into the new railcar plant, is expected to create more than 100 construction jobs. Once operational, the CRRC USA Rail Corp. is projected to initially employ 150 workers.

"From supporting the local economy in Springfield and creating new manufacturing jobs to improving public transportation for Massachusetts commuters and visitors, this project brings with it extensive benefits across the Commonwealth," say Gov. Charlie Baker. "As our efforts to deliver the world class transit system taxpayers pay for and deserve continue, new subway cars built right here in the Commonwealth will deliver more reliability and new opportunities for employment and economic development for the people of Massachusetts."

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno adds, “Springfield is moving forward full-steam ahead and we are honored that CRRC USA Rail is along for the ride. The return of manufacturing to this site, the spin-off effects to vendors this project will have throughout Western Mass. and most importantly the jobs that will be coming to town is a huge success for Springfield.”

MBTA general manager Frank DePaola says that the new cars to be built by CRRC will replace Orange and Red Line cars that are more than 30 years old. He termed the project “a major investment in the future of public transportation in Greater Boston, as well as a sizeable investment in the Western Massachusetts regional economy."