Canada’s Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has started a two-month trial service of its first modern Azur metro trains on the Orange line.
The new generation of metro cars has been manufactured by a consortium of Bombardier-Alstom and the trial follows several months of testing on the Orange and Blue lines.
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The first train will undergo testing in passenger service on the line for at least 61 days while a second pre-series train will continue testing without passengers on the Green, Yellow and Blue lines.
Bombardier Transportation Americas president Raymond Bachant said: "We wish to congratulate our customer, the Société de Transport de Montréal, with whom we inaugurated today the Azur metro cars.
"We have spared no efforts in carrying out this project and helping shape the city’s vision: offering Montrealers cutting-edge metro cars that will provide STM passengers with the reliable, comfortable and rapid service to meet the high expectations of Québec’s metropolis."
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The new nine-car metro trains are part of a C$1.2bn order signed in 2010 by STM with a consortium of Bombardier and Alstom for the supply of 52 nine-car rubber-tyred trainsets.
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By GlobalDataIn total, STM has ordered 468 new-generation cars that feature panoramic windows, indirect lighting, communicating passageways, larger doors, extra passenger capacity, optimised air suspension, and modern information and safety systems.
Alstom Canada president Angelo Guercioni said: "Azur has undergone strict and extensive qualification testing on the STM network, validating the metro trainset in its operating environment and confirming its performance.
"With today’s entry into service, passengers can be assured of comfortable, enjoyable and safe journeys."
The cars are expected to be delivered before 2018 and more than 150 Canadian suppliers are participating in the project.
As consortium leader Bombardier is responsible for design and engineering at its St Bruno site, and production and final assembly at its La Pocatière manufacturing facility.
Alstom is supplying bogies from its Sorel-Tracy plant, as well as automatic train control, communications, passenger information systems and CCTV.
Image: STM chairman Schnobb and Montreal mayor Coderre in the cab of Azur with an operator. Photo: courtesy of Alstom.
