The New Red Line Cars Were Supposed to Be Done in 2023. Now They Can't Even Say When?

Red Line riders, bad news. The MBTA says its 252 new Red Line cars won't all be here by the end of 2027. New date? They don't have one.

Remember, these were supposed to be done in 2023. The CRRC contract started in 2014 at $566 million. Now it's over $1 billion, after the T waived penalties and paid $148 million more in 2024.

This time the T blames the feds. Customs held CRRC car shells at the Port of Philadelphia over a forced-labor law check, and the Springfield plant furloughed 160-plus workers. "It's unfortunate that actions by the federal government have further delayed the delivery," MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said.

Score so far: 68 of 252 Red Line cars accepted. The Orange Line got all 152. The new cars run great, too. That's exactly why "no date" hurts.

Revised schedule comes this winter. I'll believe it when I'm sitting on one.