Testing under way on prototype CRRC MBTA Orange Line cars
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe prototype Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Orange Line trainset for Boston’s rail transit system built by CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corp.) is undergoing dynamic tests at the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles plant in China. MBTA released a short video of testing on Oct. 10.
MBTA in October 2014 awarded CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles (now part of CRRC) a $566 million contract for 152 cars to replace PA3 cars built by Hawker Siddeley Canada from 1979 to 1981. MBTA also ordered 132 vehicles for the Red Line, and subsequently increased that to 252 cars.
Most of the vehicles will be assembled at CRRC’s new $95 million rolling stock manufacturing facility in Springfield, Mass., which is scheduled to open in 2018. The new Orange Line trains are expected to enter service beginning in 2019 and continuing through 2023. The first trainset is expected to arrive in Boston in December.
