Quester Tangent, designer, manufacturer and integrator of train electronics and software solutions for the North American passenger rail car and locomotive market, has signed a contract with China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. (CRRC) Ltd. to deliver train monitoring and diagnostic systems, networks and engineering services for Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) new 7000 Series rail vehicles.

In April 2016, CRRC was awarded the $1.3B contract to deliver 846 new subway cars to CTA.

In the past five years, Quester Tangent has worked hard to become a qualified vendor for CTA, North America's second largest public transportation system, according to the company. In addition, CRRC is a new customer for Quester Tangent.

The Canadian company’s client list already includes major transit authorities like New York City Transit Authority, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The train monitoring and diagnostic systems destined for CTA’s 7000 Series fleet of passenger rail vehicles will be designed and tested at Quester Tangent’s Central Saanich facility in British Columbia.

“To meet the Buy America requirements for this project, we will be heavily tapping into our U.S. supply chain and in particular our Disadvantaged Business Enterprise partners,” said Stephen McKay, president/CEO at Quester Tangent. “This contract will create more than 30 man-years of employment."

The first production units are expected to be off the assembly line in early 2018.