US Senator Charles Schumer wants ‘top-to-bottom review’ of Chinese train maker CRRC that won design contest for New York City subway cars
- New York senator fears state-owned CRRC could potentially expose US rail system to cyberespionage and sabotage
- CRRC has already been awarded contracts in recent years for new subway cars in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia
The US Senate’s top Democrat is calling on the federal government to step in and investigate whether a plan for new subway cars in New York City designed by a Chinese state-owned company could pose a threat to national security.
Senator Charles Schumer of New York said in a statement to Associated Press on Sunday that he has asked the Commerce Department to conduct a “top-to-bottom review” after CRRC, one of the world’s largest train makers, won a design contest for new subway cars that would include “modern train control technology”.
The company has not won a contract in New York City, which has America’s biggest transit system, but it has been awarded contracts in recent years for new subway cars in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia.
In announcing the contest winners last year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the subway system, said CRRC had proposed investing US$50 million of its own money to develop the new subway cars.
The contest was designed to bring out new ideas for future projects but did not lead to any contracts for new subway cars and the MTA is not currently purchasing any new cars.