The consortium led by Alstom, Groupe des partenaires pour la mobilité des Montréalais (Groupe PMM), participated in the inauguration hosted by its customer, CDPQ Infra, of the first segment of Réseau express métropolitain (REM), a new automated urban rail system, which connects Brossard on Montreal’s South Shore with Montreal’s Central Station.

Upon completion, REM will be one of the world's largest automated transport networks — approximately 42 miles long with 26 stations — connecting downtown Montreal to the South Shore, the North Shore, the West Island, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, it will provide rapid service with trains arriving every three minutes 45 seconds during peak hours and operate 20 hours a day.

Alstom’s Participation

Groupe PMM provided REM with a complete driverless, automated metro system, including rolling stock and signaling, and will operate and maintain the entire 42-mile system for 30 years. The first segment, between Brossard and Montreal’s Central Station, spans 10.5 miles and includes five stations equipped with a system of platform screen doors installed by Alstom, a first in Quebec. Eighty Metropolis metro cars will be operated on this segment, which will enter commercial service on July 31.

“We are extremely proud today with our partners to participate in the inauguration of the REM in Montreal,” says Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and CEO of Alstom. “This project is a great showcase for demonstrating Alstom’s leadership to serve its customers from A to Z, bringing together its undisputable integrated turnkey and services leadership and expertise.”

Under the terms of the contract, Groupe PMM will supply 212 Alstom Metropolis metro cars (106 two-car trainsets), Alstom’s Urbalis GoA4 (Grade of Automation 4) driverless and automated communications-based train control (CBTC) solution, and Alstom’s Iconis control center solution, as well as platform screen doors, Wi-Fi connectivity, cybersecurity, depot equipment and 30 years of operations and maintenance services, including HealthHub for predictive maintenance and fleet management. Groupe PMM is also responsible for train and system integration tests.