CRRC Faces Risk of Train Assembly Halt in the U.S.

CRRC has found itself at the center of controversy after U.S. Customs detained Chinese components intended for train assembly at its Massachusetts facility. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The parts were meant for building 404 railcars for MBTA in Springfield. The contract, signed in 2014, requires 60% domestic content, yet a significant portion of components still comes from China.

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Problems arose due to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which blocks imports linked to forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region. Authorities suspect human rights violations in the supply chain.

Customs confiscated the shipment without return, which could delay production significantly—or bring it to a complete halt.

CRRC has denied the allegations, stating it complies with international labor standards. Still, pressure from U.S. regulators continues to mount.

CRRC Under Pressure from U.S. Legislation

The parts seizure was supported by Eric Olson, executive director of the U.S. Rail Security Alliance. He noted that concerns over CRRC’s potential use of Uyghur and child labor have been raised for years.

In his view, the customs action was justified and aligned with protecting ethical labor standards. He emphasized that such reports have circulated since 2018.

CRRC built its Springfield facility specifically for the MBTA contract. However, most components continue to be sourced from China.

CRRC and MBTA Contract: Rising Costs and Delays

Originally, the project was valued at $567 million with a completion target of 2023. But by 2024, only 130 cars had been delivered, and the contract cost had ballooned to over $1 billion.

COVID-19 disruptions, technical faults, and quality control issues contributed to the delays. The expected delivery date has now shifted to 2027.

Ongoing political tensions between the U.S. and China could further delay the project. The CRRC-MBTA contract has become a casualty of escalating trade scrutiny and regulatory enforcement.

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