Bombardier Transportation announced today it has won a contract valued at approximately 264 million euros ($381 million US, $386 million CAN) from the Government of Quebec to supply 160 Multilevel commuter rail cars for the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT) in Montréal. This order is based on a call for tender issued in February 2007. The contract includes a base order of 30 cars and options for 130 additional cars. The Government of Quebec has elected to exercise all available options.

The state-of-the-art, stainless-steel passenger rail cars are configured to operate on AMT’s existing network and will also be introduced on the future train de l’Est line. Bombardier has a long history of providing quality rail solutions to Montréal, including the last delivery of 22 aluminum-construction BOMBARDIER BiLevel cars to the AMT. Specification for the new Multilevel cars complies with infrastructure parameters on the entire AMT network, allowing the cars to operate on any of the AMT’s commuter rail lines.

William Spurr, President of Bombardier Transportation North America, said: “This contract illustrates the great confidence the Government of Quebec and the AMT have invested in our products, and we are happy to take part in the expansion of rail transportaton in the Montreal Metropolitain region. Like many other large cities around the world, metropolitan Montreal needs an efficient and modern transit system to facilate mobility and stimulate economic development. Investing in rail solutions is a concrete step towards sustainable development.”

The Multilevel cars feature two main levels of passenger seating zones, as well as an intermediate level offering ergonomic seats in a comfortable and convenient interior design. In addition, the new cars include:

- Higher passenger capacity to better serve growing demand for commuter rail transportation. Depending on the car configuration (with or without washroom and/or operator’s cab), each car is equipped with up to 142 ergonomic seats and can accommodate up to 200 passengers. The Multilevel car offers up to 30% more seated capacity than typical single-level cars;

- An audio-visual passenger-information system, equipped with a bi-directional interphone linking passengers and crew members. The system uses GPS technology to make announcements (next station, final destination, etc.) and to notify passengers in case of emergencies;

- Spacious intermediate-level areas with seats and space for bicycles;

- Fewer disturbances in passenger seating areas due to large side doors located at the intermediate level. These provide superior accessibility from high and low platforms;

- A completely accessible washroom module for disabled individuals (in specific cars offering this configuration).

The stainless-steel cars will be manufactured at Bombardier production facilities in La Pocatiere, Quebec. The La Pocatière site is currently manufacturing Multilevel cars for New Jersey Transit (NJT) in the United States. First delivery of the new Multilevel cars for the AMT is planned for the third quarter of 2009.

Bombardier is the only major passenger rail car manufacturer with a dedicated rail production and engineeering presence in Canada. Since its origins in 1974, Bombardier’s rail business has manufactured close to 7,000 rail cars for domestic and export markets through its two Canadian manufacturing facilities in La Pocatière, Quebec and Thunder Bay, Ontario. It also operates engineering and administrative centers in Saint-Bruno, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario.

In Montréal, Bombardier has provided rail vehicles for the Montréal subway (1974), locomotive-hauled coaches for the Montréal Rigaud commuter rail line (1989), electric commuter vehicles for the Deux-Montagnes line (1992), and aluminum BiLevel cars for the Montréal-Rigaud line (2003).