Local News

Eight new T subway cars detained in Philadelphia

Investigators want to know if the subway car shells were built using forced labor in China.

A Red Line MBTA train stopped at the Park Street station in Boston. David L Ryan/Globe Staff

August 2, 2025

1 minute to read

Federal agents have detained eight new MBTA Red and Orange Line subway car shells at the Port of Philadelphia while investigators probe whether they were built using forced labor in China.

According to a WBUR report, the shells were manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) and assembled in Springfield. In June, Federal Customs and Border Protection agents flagged the shells under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans U.S. imports linked to forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region.

CRRC denies that the shells were produced using forced labor, saying the company “maintained rigorous compliance reviews” on its suppliers.

MBTA General Manager Phil Eng told WBUR that production continues at the Springfield facility, and the detainment of the eight cars has not delayed their delivery schedule.

Eng told WBUR that there are enough train shells in Springfield to keep production going through the end of the year. He added that the T will have a clearer picture of any changes to the delivery schedule once the issue is resolved.

“ We really do believe that CRRC is going to be able to answer these questions, and ensure that we can continue production,” Eng said.

Eng said they are holding off on sending more train shell shipments from China to the U.S. while CRRC is in the “ midst of finalizing the third round of questions.”

“Once that is done, we’ll have a better understanding of what next steps are to be taken,” Eng told the outlet.