A shipment of train components manufactured by a Chinese state-owned company for the MBTA has been released from federal custody, allowing production of sorely needed Red Line cars to resume in Springfield.
The release prompted cheers from state officials including Gov. Maura Healey, who called it “great news.”
U.S. Customs and Border Control first seized the new train car shells and other essential equipment last summer over concerns that Beijing-based CRRC Corp. may have violated the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a 2021 U.S. law aimed at preventing American companies from funding forced labor among ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.
The holdup prompted CRRC MA, the Springfield facility used to assemble train cars with components shipped from China, to furlough more than 160 workers.
With the components now released, CRRC MA will gradually resume train construction at its plant in Springfield “with the goal to recall affected employees from furlough,” according to spokesperson Lydia Rivera.
In an interview with GBH’s Boston Public Radio Friday, MBTA General Manager and interim Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Phil Eng celebrated CBP’s decision.
“The cars have been approved. We’re taking control of them. They’re making their way to Springfield, and the workforce is ready to get back to work,” he said, noting that the customs holdup has put the already-delayed effort to replace aging MBTA cars even further behind schedule.
Eng told GBH that CRRC provided Trump administration officials with documentation proving that the company had not violated labor laws. He said Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal met with President Donald Trump and his chief of staff about the situation, which may have helped speed up the components’ release.
“I’m grateful for the strong partnership of Congressman Neal and Interim Secretary and General Manager Eng throughout this process,” Healey added in a statement. “These parts are essential for delivering the safe and reliable service that Red Line riders deserve, while also supporting hundreds of good jobs in Springfield.”
