SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said Wednesday that he was asked, but chose not to join dozens of members of Congress that are calling for a federal investigation of a Chinese rail car company whose manufacturing plans in Massachusetts include a $95 million factory in East Springfield.

Neal's comments followed news that 55 members of Congress have asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew for an investigation into China Railroad Rolling Stock Corp., or CRRC, which is building Red and Orange line subway cars for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston.

CRRC was selected for a rail car manufacturing contract in Massachusetts following the "due diligence" of the administrations of former Gov. Deval Patrick and current Gov. Charlie Baker, Neal said. It appears it was duly vetted and carefully examined by both administrations, he said.

Neal, D-Springfield, said he is confident that if Treasury does proceed with an examination of CRRC, "it will come to a conclusion all the T's have been crossed and the I's have been dotted."

The project is a "good news story for Western Massachusetts," and construction in Springfield is underway, Neal said.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal

According to news reports, the legislators calling for the probe questioned if subsidized financing from the Chinese government helped CRRC underbid private competitors in Boston and Chicago. Some members of Congress are also raising security concerns, with the letter to the Treasury saying that "critical rail infrastructure and the sensitive cargo that it carries will become increasingly vulnerable to hackers as the proliferation of Chinese state investment continues without adequate scrutiny."

Regarding the potential investigation, Neal said: "At the moment, I think I am not concerned about the consequences."

Citing the significant investment by CRRC in Massachusetts, Neal said there have not been manufacturing investments of this magnitude in this state in some time.

A CRRC spokeswoman was quoted by the State House News Service as saying that the company "completely complies with the specifications and provides vehicles of high quality and competitive pricing."