For Massachusetts, a 'holiday gift' of Chinese-made rail cars
Two newly rolled-out rail cars, the first pair of the 404 next-generation rail vehicles being built by the U.S. factory of Chinese rail car manufacturer CRRC will be delivered to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), a division of Pollack's Department, for further tests before entering into service in the coming months.
"No matter what"
Despite Washington's punitive tariffs on Chinese products, Governor Baker was resolute in upgrading the Greater Boston's old subway cars.
"We're replacing cars here that are 50 years old, and they have 2 million miles on them," he told Xinhua. "This is important, and we're going to get it done ... no matter what."
Admitting that trade tensions between China and the United States is concerning, he noted that cooperation is "worth it at the end of the day for the commonwealth and for the ridership."
"It (trade dispute) is a big issue for everybody that is doing business like this, but it's not going to change our commitment to the project," he said.
Speaking of the U.S. tariff threats and moves against Chinese products, Springfield Mayor Sarno said that he, together with Governor Baker and some lawmakers in Washington D.C., have written letters to Washington, urging waivers on tariffs pertaining to China and "specifically to the railway manufacturing going on in Springfield, Massachusetts."
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno speaks to reporters after a celebration ceremony at the factory of CRRC in Springfield, Massachusetts, the United States, on Dec. 18, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
According to one of his letters to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in September, Sarno said that the CRRC's success is "critical" to his city and the regional economy if it wishes to bring back manufacturing and skilled labor.
The two rail cars unveiled are "just the beginning of a multi-billion-dollar investment that will essentially rebuild first the orange line and then the red line for the MBTA and really position them for the 21st century," Pollack of the state's transportation department told the audience at the roll-out ceremony.
"To my colleagues from Los Angeles and from Philadelphia, we're delighted that you too will be taking advantage of this wonderful factory ... and I wish you all the luck in the world," Pollack said. "I just want mine first."
