Some more information:
VI. CNR MA’S TECHNICAL APPROACH AND MANUFACTURING PLAN
China CNR Corporation Limited is the largest rail car manufacturer in the world, with a
production capacity of 1,000 high speed trains, 1,200 mass transit vehicles and 500 railway
vehicles. CNR’s facility in Changchun, China covers 53 million square feet and is one of the
largest transit vehicle facilities in the world. CNR has indicated that two manufacturing lines at
the Changchun facility will be dedicated to the MBTA Orange and Red Line project. The
Changchun facility also features four test tracks for mass transit vehicles, with additional test
tracks for high speed rail.
CNR has extensive experience manufacturing stainless steel carbodies and implementing vehicle
weight management, which is described with a high level of detail in their Part B Technical
Proposal. CNR utilizes advanced manufacturing methods and equipment such as robotic and
laser welding, as well as advanced car component material such as carbon fiber. Additionally,
through site visits conducted on behalf of the MBTA, we have confirmed that CNR has a high
level of engineering competence with more than 600 employees devoted to Research and
Development.
CNR MA intends to build a new manufacturing facility for final assembly of the new Orange and
Red Line vehicles at 655 Page Boulevard in Springfield, Massachusetts, which will serve as CNR MA’s North American headquarters. The Springfield site is an environmentally cleared 40 acre site that is “shovel ready.” CNR MA plans to build a facility that includes over 150,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. This facility will include a dynamic test track,
which will enable testing prior to shipment of the vehicles to the Authority. CNR MA plans to
invest $60 million of its own resources into this facility.
The MBTA recognizes that the new Orange and Red Line vehicles represent CNR’s first
experience providing heavy rail vehicles to the North American market. As such, the Authority
has negotiated a number of contract provisions designed to mitigate risk, which are described in
greater detail in Section X of this Staff Summary.
CNR MA has conducted extensive local outreach in order to staff its Massachusetts facility,
including partnering with the City of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic
Development, Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Western New England College, UMass
Amherst College of Engineering, Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and the
Pioneer Valley Construction Trades. CNR MA projects approximately 150 jobs at its
Massachusetts facility, plus an additional 100 jobs during construction.
