Test Track and Vehicle Testing Facility to Be Used for New MBTA Red Line Cars

New Red Line cars shipped from Springfield to Boston will be commissioned using the recently completed $22 million Red Line Test Track and Vehicle Testing Facility, built as part of the Red Line Transformation Program, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) press release.

The dedicated track and facility will give the MBTA flexibility and control over the testing process and will allow a faster rollout of the new fleet.

The new test track and testing facility will soon be used to commission the first production vehicles before the end of the Winter and an increase of deliveries is expected throughout 2022. At the same time, deliveries continue for Orange Line trains.

“The installation of the new test track and testing facility enables the timely commissioning of new Red Line vehicles as part of the MBTA’s plan to increase capacity and improve reliability on the Red Line,” said Steve Poftak, MBTA GM.

The new test track is adjacent to Cabot Yard (near Broadway Station), allowing easy access for vehicle deliveries and testing without interfering with regular maintenance or competing for access on the mainline with regular service.

“The completion of this project brings our team one step closer to delivering state-of-the-art, more reliable vehicles to our Red Line ridership,” said Angel Peña, chief of Capital Transformation.