At least according to what I've heard from Eng in interviews, the MBTA is being tougher on them in other ways. MBTA has used some authority to have tougher oversight over the factory. They've fixed some QC protocols. Stuff like that. Being tougher in those ways hopefully gets us the new trains as soon as possible.Definitely accurate that not all of this is within CRRC's control.
However, I still think we are being too soft on them with regard to some of the other problems that have gone on specifically as it relates to the Springfield factory and delays that have happened over there. Just my opinion.
As for paying CRCC another $150M, yeah, not great. It would be really bad if CRCC was still just flailing and we throw more money at the problem. It's not as bad if MBTA is confident that problems at the factory are getting sorted, and that money is a reasonable estimate for what it'll actually take to deliver the trains. If the MBTA is convinced that money is actually needed to finish the trains, then withholding is a bad way to be tough. They'll risk not getting the trains, or just getting junk.
In any case, the MBTA is picking between only bad options. As long as they've stepped up their oversight, then this doesn't seem like the worst.