Losing Bidder For Mass. Rail Contract Sues

The losing bidder for the contract to run the MBTA's commuter rail service is suing to block the winning bidder from taking over.

Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. had run the rail service for years but lost when Keolis Commuter Services won the nearly $2.7 billion contract in January.

A draft of MBCR's court filing provided to The Boston Globe contends that Keolis lied about its record of accidents and fatalities in Europe and failed to meet requirements for hiring minority-owned subcontractors.

It also says the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority helped guide Keolis through the bidding procedures, in some cases coaching it on navigating the process. In addition, MBCR alleges the narrow profit margin Keolis outlined is too risky to be realistic.

A Keolis spokesman called MBCR's assertions misleading.