SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – CRRC in Springfield revealed new metro cars being designed and built in western Massachusetts for the city of Los Angeles Tuesday.

“Together we built a highly trained workforce to produce these state of the art cars that will replace the aging metro system throughout the united states,” said Michael LaFleur, Regional Manager of Sheet Mental Workers Local 63.

Mayor Domenic Sarno joined with the Chief Operating Officer of Metro Los Angeles James Gallagher, CRRC MA Chairman and President Jia Bo and local labor leaders at the CRRC MA manufacturing facility on Page Boulevard to reveal the new cars at 10 a.m.

Sarno said he is optimistic about the opportunities this project will bring to residents near and far, “Jobs will continue, expansion will continue, and also marketing will continue to other metros across the United States of America, North America, and the world.”

“We look forward to working closely with CRRC and all the people here in Springfield,” said Jim Gallagher, COO of Los Angeles Metro.

The metro cars are being built by CRRC Massachusetts. They were awarded the contract in 2016 to build 64 new subway cars for the Red and Purple LA lines with consideration for an additional 218 cars. The contract was worth $647 million.

CRRC Massachusetts has 386 employees, including 227 union production workers. They are also is looking for an additional 60 union hires with the hopes of adding even more in the future.

Senator Eric Lesser of Longmeadow told 22News, “Of course that is great news for the people of Los Angeles, they are going to get new subway cars but it is also great news for Springfield because it is going to put hundreds of people to work.”

Back in March, a Springfield-built CRRC Orange Line subway car derailed on the MBTA tracks. The MBTA acknowledged this week that the switch in the tracks likely contributed to the derailment and there was no issue with the car itself. The MBTA and CRRC are working to restore the Springfield-built cars to service.