STM to use federal investment for additional subway cars

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) will purchase as additional 153 Azur subway cars from a consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation and Alstom thanks to a C$215 million (US$162.38 million) investment from the Canadian government.  

The government of Canada recognizes that investing in public transit infrastructure is crucial to economic growth, reducing air pollution, and creating inclusive communities where everyone has access to public services and job opportunities. 

The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced the investment for the subway cars of which the provincial government of Quebec and the STM are also contributing into the project. The project is estimated to be more than C$580 million (US$438.04 million) and includes the purchase of additional communications equipment for the new trains, as well as the disposal and recycling of the 153 MR-73 cars that are being replaced.  

"Modern efficient public transit infrastructure plays an important role in developing sustainable communities and supporting good, middle-class jobs. Our government's historic investment in subway cars for the STM will improve the reliability and comfort of services for the people of Montreal. By investing in projects like this, our government is helping make our air cleaner and create well-paying jobs for Quebeckers and Canadians," said Minister Champagne.    

The Bombardier Transportation-Alstom consortium said the purchase of the cars is an amendment to an initial contract in October 2010 and noted the value of the new order is approximately C$448 million (US$340 million).  

Besides ensuring that Bombardier Transportation's factory in La Pocatière and the Alstom plant in Sorel-Tracy can retain numerous jobs, these news cars will replace part of the fleet of MR‑73 cars to improve the quality and capacity of Montréal's public transit network. The project also includes the purchase of additional communications equipment for the new trains, as well as the disposal and recycling of the 153 MR‑73 cars that are being replaced. 

Bombardier said most of the manufacturing and the total of the final assembly of these additional vehicles will be undertaken at its facility in La Pocatière. Alstom’s facility in Sorel-Tracy will supply the bogies and the motors, as well as the train control, communication, passenger information and video surveillance systems. 

"We are delighted by this announcement, which will maintain hundreds of jobs at our plant in La Pocatière, as well as at our North American headquarters in St. Bruno. The Azur metro cars...exceed world-class performance and reliability standards," said Benoit Brossoit, president, Americas Region, Bombardier Transportation.  

Each trainset can accommodate eight-percent more passengers and will include features such as 27-percent wider doors for improved passenger entry and exit, open gangways to allow passengers to walk freely from one end of the train to the other, an improved ventilation system, as well as onboard cameras and two-way intercom system.