Bombardier Thunder Bay lands contract for 28 BiLevel commuter cars

A major new contract is breathing some more life into Thunder Bays Bombardier plant.

Cars to be delivered to two U.S. transit authorities starting late 2021

CBC News Posted: May 27, 2020 1:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 27, 2020

Bombardier said Wednesday it has secured a new contract for 28 BiLevel commuter cars, which will be manufactured at its plant in Thunder Bay, Ont. (Jeff Walters/CBC)

A major new contract is breathing some life into Thunder Bay's Bombardier plant.

The company announced Wednesday the plant will build 28 BiLevel commuter cars, which will be delivered to two transit authorities on the west coast of the U.S.; the procurement was led by the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority in Seattle, Washington, the company said in a media release issued Wednesday.

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Bombardier said the contracts are valued at about $108 million U.S., and will see the local plant build eight cab cars and 20 coaches, with options for 33 additional cars. Delivery is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Production on the 28 cars will start in about a year, or the second quarter of 2021. Approximately 300 people will work on the order, which will take about 15 months to complete.

Work on this new contract will start shortly after work on the current GO Transit contract wraps up.

"We are very happy to serve our valued, long-term commuter rail car customers as they expand andimprove their fleets to meet ridership needs and enhance the passenger experience," said Elliot G.(Lee) Sander, President, America's Region, Bombardier Transportation. "These new orders are ademonstration of continued confidence in the BiLevel commuter rail car, a service-proven transitsolution that delivers unparalleled reliability."

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Employees at the plant will take part in two events on Wednesday afternoon, to make the formal announcement with Bombardier Thunder Bay Plant ManagerDaveBlack and David Van Der Wee, the COO for Bombardier.

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Bombardier Thunder Bay lands contract for 28 BiLevel commuter cars

Cars to be delivered to two U.S. transit authorities starting late 2021

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