Alstom to maintain Ottawa light-rail system

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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Ottawa is looking to make a change to its Stage 3 LRT project.
Alstom

Rideau Transit Maintenance General Partnership (RTM) has chosen Alstom to maintain the O-Train Confederation Line, the Canadian capital’s light-rail transit system.

The U.S. $125 million contract (CA $180 million) requires that Alstom maintain the line for 30 years, including the management of track maintenance, overseeing the operating control system and power substation and maintaining the communications and signaling systems.

With an expected opening in 2018, the line is set to reach 7.8 miles (12.5 kilometers) in length and consist of 13 stations. Alstom is working to assemble the line’s Citadis Spirit vehicles at an Ottawa facility, the Belfast Yard and site of OC Transpo. 

Alstom representatives say the company has 25 years of experience in maintaining rail vehicles and systems designed for urban transit, with more than 8,000 cars currently maintained internationally.

“We are pleased to award Alstom this expanded scope in maintaining the Confederation Line system,” said Grant Bailey, general manager of Rideau Transit Maintenance. “This contract places many of the critical system interfaces under the responsibility of a single service provider and will result in streamlined maintenance processes and improved system reliability.” 

Bailey added that he thinks Alstom is a “world class” supplier and RTM is excited to work the company to provide “green and efficient” public transportation service in the nation’s capital. 

“Alstom is very committed to Ottawa’s light rail system, and we are pleased that RTM has chosen Alstom to maintain the O-Train Confederation Line,” said Angelo Guercioni, Alstom’s managing director for Canada. “Not only will Ottawa benefit from Alstom’s worldwide experience in delivering light-rail vehicles and maintaining light-rail infrastructure systems, this maintenance contract also will create new highly-skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs.”

The project in Ottawa begins Alstom’s entry into the North American market for its Citadis Spirit light-rail vehicle. The Citadis Spirit vehicle is meant to operate in extreme cold weather conditions, representatives said, adding that it can circulate at speeds of up to 62 mph (100 km/hour), which would decrease travel times for passengers riding between suburban areas and downtown.

“Ottawa is investing in green and efficient public transportation. As part of this effort, we are making sure that our modern trains continue to give 100 % performance over their lifetime, representing an attractive means of transportation for our residents and visitors,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. 

The assembly site at Belfast Yard will be converted into a maintenance location after the Citadis Spirit vehicles have been delivered, officials say. Alstom will be able to use this space to conduct vehicle maintenance for 30 years.

Alstom is also completing other projects in Canada. The company is said to be delivering new metro cars and maintaining an Iconis integrated control center in Montreal, as well as providing a new computer-based integrated train control system for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Officials say Alstom is also working to set up Toronto’s Union Station Rail Corridor with a new signaling system and is facilitating a communications-based train control solution on Toronto Transit Commission’s Line 1 Yonge-University subway line.

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