ON: Keolis Part of Consortium to Operate Light Rail in Waterloo Region

Region of Waterloo selected the GrandLinq consortium (that includes Keolis, Plenary Group, Meridiam, Kiewit and Aecon), to design, build, operate and maintain the ION Stage 1 Light Rail Transit (LRT) project of region of Waterloo.

The contract is a 33-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the region of Waterloo, one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario, with an expected population increase of 200,000 residents by 2031.  This new contract will generate approximately CAD $550 million for Keolis over 33 years.

Through this contract, Keolis will operate and maintain the future system for 30 years and will also be involved during the 3-year design and construction phase.  This LRT system will initially comprise 19 km of track, 16 stops and 14 tram sets. Work begins this month and is scheduled for completion in 2017.

The province of Ontario is leading the way in PPP models, which play a prime role in the local economic action plan to build new public infrastructure. For Keolis, this project is the first of its kind in North America and shows the capacity of the company to enter this highly competitive market.

“We are very proud to have been chosen by region of Waterloo and we look forward to developing a strong partnership,” comments Bernard Tabary, CEO International, Keolis. “Bringing the operator’s perspective from the design and construction phase is essential to delivering an efficient and sustainable system. By using our “think like a passenger” approach we will bring a new travel experience to local citizens.”