Republicans Spur Investigation into China-Owned Corporation Given Billions in U.S. Tax Dollars to Build Rail Cars

Breitbart ^ | 3 Mar 2023 | JOHN BINDER

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) is now being investigated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Inspector General (IG) after the China-owned company has raked in billions in American taxpayer money, producing rail cars for a number of cities in the United States.

The CRRC, owned by the government of China, was initially awarded a $138 million contract with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to build at least 45 new rail cars.

Already, the contract has been marked with delays and production issues like “‘repeated failures of water-tightness tests,’ faulty interior panels, wiring issues, repeated brake test failures, and ‘unsafe emergency exit windows,'” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Last year, Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Rick Crawford (R-AR) asked the DOT IG to investigate whether CRRC was adhering to Buy American rules, which require the corporation to source at least 70 percent of rail car components from manufacturers in the U.S.

The letter stated:

[G Larry]

Recall that a major DOD parts supply problem has been the introduction of inferior quality material in basic assembly hardware such as nuts, bolts, bearings....

Imagine the impact of low quality bearings on rail wheel assemblies.....

[pt17]

I believe Boston's infamous MBTA also contracted with CRRC for rail cars that haven't been delivered. The deal goes back to the 2014-2016 time frame when the MBTA contracted with CRRC for about $1 Billion in rail cars to be built by a CRRC plant in MA (the old Westinghouse plant in Springfield). As you might expect, things haven't turned out well for former Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to create a rail car industry in the state while getting new rail cars for the MBTA.

I read that the CRRC has deteriorating relationships with its suppliers. The voters appear to be too busy being 'woke' to notice what's going on around them.

[dragnet2]

Once again the American taxpayers are looted and robbed at every turn.

[Vaduz]

Pennsylvania that word again another shady operations center.

California still #1

[meatloaf]

That’s typical for transit car construction. After the project is over future projects are assembled in locations where the cars are to be used.

The doors, HVAC system and the software are always the gotchas.

I’m not sure if the DC Metro ever got the software code for their cars from the Italians.

[dennisw]

https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/remember-the-crrc-boston-rail-car-project-its-shaping-up-to-be-quite-the-boondoggle/ (from 2023)

Chinese made in Massachusetts — The MBTA railcar debacle
_______________

While CRRC does operate an assembly plant in Massachusetts, it’s pretty obvious that a lot of the work making these rail cars is being done in China. Entire rail car shells have been imported by CRRC into the United States for final assembly. With so much work happening on the other side of the world, it is nearly impossible to effectively monitor project progress, or lack thereof.