(Yicai Global) Dec. 19 -- Beijing-based rolling stock manufacturer CRRC delivered the first train from its unit CRRC MA's Springfield plant on Dec. 18, Chinese state media The Paper reported. CRRC will produce replacement red and orange line cars for the mass transit system of Boston, Massachusetts in the northeastern US.

CCRC MA, CRRC's unit in Springfield in the same state will produce 404 metro trains for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, of which 152 are for its orange line and 252 for its red line. These trains will phase out existing outdated cars. With stainless steel bodies, they run at 102 kilometers per hour and have a service life of up to 30 years.

The company is proud to deliver its trains to its first US transit system customer on time, said Jia Bo, chairman and general manager of CRRC MA, which has created hundreds of jobs and stimulated the local economy, Jia added. 

The company's achievements reflect the good partnership created through cooperation and mutual respect, he noted.

The MBTA Subway began operation in 1897. It was the first underground train in the US. The system's orange line and red line trains, which run in groups of six or four cars, have a service history stretching back over 40 years.

The Springfield plant is the first US manufacturing base of CRRC, "the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment with the most complete product lines and leading technologies," its website states. The US plant covers 40 acres (162,000 square meters) and comprises general vehicle and bogie assemblies, and testing and after-sales services, with a planned monthly output of 12 vehicles, per an earlier company statement. 

It employs nearly 220 workers currently, making it a major production center in North America, the company noted.

Editor: Ben Armour