Despite a Global Pandemic CRRC Sifang America Builds and Delivers Ten Passenger Railcar Prototypes on Time

CHICAGO – Despite numerous challenges and global supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CRRC Sifang America Incorporated (CRRC) managed to stay on schedule producing and delivering ten 7000 Series passenger railcar prototypes to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The modern passenger railcars were manufactured at CRRC’s state-of-the-art production facility on Chicago’s southeast side, which reintroduced railcar manufacturing to Chicago after a nearly 60-year absence.

“CRRC overcame many significant pandemic-related challenges during production. In particular, CRRC battled disruptions in the supply chains of critical components and worked tirelessly to maintain a safe environment and a productive workforce in the midst of a global health crisis, to ensure delivery of the first ten prototype passenger railcars on schedule,” said Marina Popovic, Human Resources Director & Chief Legal Counsel for CRRC Sifang America. “While maintaining the production schedule, CRRC also continued to prioritize the highest level of workplace safety and security for its employees and never lost sight of its overall objective of delivering well-built and reliable railcars that meet the client’s unique product specifications.”

In 2016, the CTA awarded a contract to CRRC for more than 840 new 7000 Series railcars, which will replace approximately half of the agency’s current fleet. While bidding for the contract, CRRC committed to building the railcars in Chicago, and to hiring and training production workers from neighborhoods surrounding CRRC’s manufacturing facility on Chicago’s southeast side.

The 7000 Series prototypes were built using a majority of components sourced from U.S. suppliers.  An audit completed prior to the award of the railcar contract to CRRC concluded that CRRC would be sourcing approximately 70% of the total cost of the railcar components from U.S. manufacturers, far exceeding the client’s Buy America requirement.

After prototype testing is completed, CRRC will transition into production of the next four hundred 7000 Series passenger railcars.