Montreal unveils model of new metro cars

The city of Montreal has unveiled a model of its new metro cars, to be built by a consortium formed by Bombardier and French company Alstom.

The new trains will allow passengers to move freely between cars while onboard.

The trains will also be wheelchair accessible with wider passenger doors.

The Socit de Transport de Montral (STM) said the new cars will be a vastly improved model, with larger windows, air suspension for a smoother ride, several fold-up seats to provide more space, and a forced ventilation system.

There will also be a better public address sytem, according to the STM.

After much controversy, theprovincial government bypassed the normal bidding processto hand the $1.2 billion contract for 468 metro cars to the Bombardier-Alstom consortium in Oct. 2010.

The new trains will be on the tracks by early 2014.