CRRC factory construction two months ahead of schedule

Sept. 2, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Fiore Grasetti, the business manager for the International Association of Iron Workers Local 7, joined others in signing the final beam.
Reminder Publications photos by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – The topping off ceremony is always cause of celebration for the construction of a building, but the one constructed on the site of the CRRC factory on Page Boulevard took on an added dimension: the construction of the factory is 60 days ahead of schedule.     

The iron skeleton of the building that will be the North American facility of the world’s largest rail car construction company hit the first milestone before it can fulfill a contract with the Commonwealth to build 132 cars for the Red Line and 152 cars for the Orange Line of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA).

Mayor Domenic Sarno reminded the audience the factory represents a $95 million investment in the city and will provide 150 “good paying jobs.” He added the additional economic benefit would be the use of local vendors by CRRC.

Yu Weiping, the vice president of CRRC Corp. Limited, said, “Our dream will become a reality: returning manufacturing to Springfield.”

He added that assembly of the cars for Massachusetts should start in 2018, and the company is already exploring contracts to build cars for Los Angeles, CA, and Philadelphia, PA.

Stephanie Pollock, secretary of Transportation, said Eastern Massachusetts is receiving benefit – new rail cars – and Western Massachusetts will get the benefit of the factory and the economic boost it will provide.
Brian Shortsleeve, the acting general manager of the MBTA, said the new cars would replace many that are 40 years old. He added 40 percent of the total MBTA trips are on the Red and Orange lines and that 250,000 commuters use the two lines daily.

Replacing the cars is part of a comprehensive plan to improve service on the two lines.

Gov. Charlie Baker called the event, “A great day, a day that is coming a little early.”

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