Montreal to get 153 new Azur Metro cars in deal with Bombardier-Alstom consortium

The Bombardier-Alstom consortium will supply 153 additional Azurcars for Montreal's Metro for a total of 17 nine-car trains.

This news comes just days after Bombardierannounced it would be cutting 5,000 jobs, including about 2,500 in Quebec.

"With 60 per cent Canadian content, this order will leverage a network of several hundred suppliers across Quebec," the consortium says.

Nearly 170 Bombardier employees will be assigned to this new order, which will also involve 70 employees at the Alstom plant in Sorel-Tracy.

Most of the manufacturing and all of the final assembly of the new stockwill be undertaken at Bombardier's facility in La Pocatire, in the Lower St. Lawrence.

On Monday, Franois-Philippe Champagne, minister of infrastructure and communities, announced an investment of over $215 million to support the purchase by Montreal's transit agency, the Socit de transport de Montral (STM).

The government of Quebec and the STM are also contributing to the project, bringing the total investment to over $580 million, according to a newsrelease.

Besides ensuring the retention of jobs at Bombardier's factory in La Pocatire and the Alstom plant in Sorel-Tracy, these newcars will replace part of the fleet of MR73 cars to improve the quality and capacity of Montreal's public transit network, the statement says.

New cars can carry more passengers

Designed specifically for Montreal's metro system,Azurtrains entered service in Montreal in February 2016.

Larger and connected by bridges that people can walk through, theAzurmetro cars can carry eight per centmore passengers than the old cars, which represents a capacity of several million more passengers each year for the Montreal Metro.

• Bombardier to cut 5,000 jobs, sell off turboprop and flight training businesses

The project also includes the purchase of additional communications equipment for the new trains, as well as the disposal and recycling of the old cars.

The aim is to improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of Montreal's transit system while making it more accessible and preparing for anticipated future increases in ridership.

"Modern efficient public transit infrastructure plays an important role in developing sustainable communities and supporting good, middle-class jobs," says Champagne in the statement.

"Our government's historic investment in subway cars for the STM will improve the reliability and comfort of services for the people of Montreal."