Alstom to maintain Ottawa's light rail system

Alstom was selected by Rideau Transit Maintenance General Partnership (RTM) to maintain the city of Ottawa’s light rail transit system, called the O-Train Confederation Line.

The contract — which is worth approximately $139 million — follows a contract signed in 2013 to supply 34 Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles to the city of Ottawa.

Alstom will maintain the entire line, which involves the maintenance of the tracks, the operating control system and the power substation, as well as the signaling and communications systems, for a period of 30 years. The line is expected to begin full revenue service in 2018. Alstom is currently assembling the Citadis Spirit vehicles at the Belfast Yard facility in Ottawa, the site of the operator OC Transpo.

The Ottawa project marks the entry of Alstom’s Citadis Spirit into the North American market. Designed for high capacity, Citadis Spirit will be able to operate in extreme cold weather and circulate at speeds of up to approximately 62 miles per hour, reducing travel time between suburban areas and the city center.

Once all Citadis Spirit vehicles have been delivered, the assembly area at Belfast Yard will be converted into a maintenance center, where Alstom will maintain the vehicles for a period of 30 years.