Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilité des Montréalais (PMM) — the Alstom-led (www.alstom.com) consortium with SNC-Lavalin — has signed a contract with CDPQ Infra to deliver a complete automatic and driverless light metro system (including rolling stock and signalling, as well as operation and maintenance services) for the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) project in Montreal, Canada.

The total contract is worth about 1.8 billion euros; Alstom’s share is estimated at 1.4 billion euros and SNC-Lavalin’s share at 400 million euros.

When completed, REM will be one of the world’s largest automated transport networks — 67km long and with 26 stations. It will connect downtown Montreal to the South Shore, the North Shore, the West Island and Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

Under the terms of the contract, Groupe PMM will supply 212 Alstom Metropolis metro cars (106 two-carriage trains), Alstom’s Urbalis 400 driverless and automated communications-based train control systems, and Iconis control centre solutions — plus platform screen doors, Wi-Fi connectivity, and 30 years of operations and maintenance services.

Groupe PMM is also responsible for train and system integration tests and depot equipment supply for train maintenance. The start of service on the first segment of REM is expected in the summer of 2021.

During the construction and the 30-year operations and maintenance period, Groupe PMM will create high-quality jobs, including: automated system experts, rolling-stock mechanics, control centre regulators, maintenance operators and control system specialists.

Of the overall economic activity generated by Groupe PMM, 67% of the investments will be in Quebec.

Furthermore, the REM project will lead to the creation of an Alstom global centre of excellence in Montreal for the research and development of integrated systems of control in urban mobility.

This centre will bring together about 100 professionals tasked with developing solutions that will be used in Alstom projects world-wide.