MBTA to receive first Orange Line cars from China in December

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) next month expects to take delivery of four new Orange Line cars manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. (CRRC).

Yesterday, the units arrived at the Port of Shanghai ready for shipping to Boston, MBTA officials said on Twitter.

When the new units arrive in Boston, they'll begin months of "rigorous testing," MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo tweeted. The first six Orange Line cars will be shipped from China, with hundreds more to be built at CRRC's new plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Last month, MBTA officials said the agency expects the new plant to be completed in winter, with full rail-car production slated to begin in April 2018.

In 2014, CRRC was awarded a $566 million contract to design and manufacture 152 Orange Line vehicles and 132 Red Line units. In December 2016, the MBTA ordered 120 additional Red Line vehicles to replace the entire fleet on that line.