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T board criticized for secret talks on $280m deal

The deal means the MBTA will replace an group of Red Line cars (like the one above) received in the 1990s, instead of rehabilitating the vehicles. Lane Turner / Globe Staff / File

By The Boston Globe

December 17, 2016

1 minute to read

When the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s oversight board this week approved a nearly $280 million no-bid contract to buy new Red Line cars from a Chinese company, it marked the first time the massive deal with the group had been discussed publicly.

The company, China Railway Rolling Stock Corp., had been negotiating with the MBTA for eight months, but wasn’t mentioned by name on the agenda that announced Monday’s meeting. Months before, MBTA officials had publicly discussed the possible purchase of a batch of new Red Line cars, but refused to say whether they would purchase them from the company.

Read the complete story at BostonGlobe.com.

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