Equans Transport CM Canada (Equans Transport) announces that it will bring its expertise in rail electrification to the NouvLR consortium, responsible for engineering, procurement and construction of the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) project.
The REM, a new fully automated light rail transportation network, is the largest public transit project in Quebec since the inauguration of the Montreal Metro over 50 years ago. Equans Transport has been selected for its international expertise in the electrification of railway networks. The REM is Equans' first rail electrification project in Canada.
Initially, Equans Transport will provide technical support to the NouvLR team to finalize the design of the catenary system – an overhead cable system that includes a set of supporting cables and wire leads that feed the electric train with a direct 1500 V current. Thereafter, the Equans Transport teams will provide turnkey services for detailed engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of the overhead catenary system for the entire REM project.
“We are very proud to be able to contribute to the construction of the REM, a major public transportation infrastructure project in Quebec. We have been in Montreal for more than 25 years, and this project demonstrates the ability of our teams to implement key rail infrastructure solutions,” stated Gwenaëlle Avice-Huet, Equans Executive Vice-President and CEO of the Group’s North America Business Unit. “With this contract, Equans Transport Canada reinforces its ambition to be one of the leading suppliers of transport infrastructure systems, particularly in metro tramways and high-speed rail lines.”
The REM will include 26 stations and span the Greater Montréal area with 67 km of rail line. The work to be performed by ETC is scheduled to start in 2020 and finish in 2023 with gradual commissioning of the first segment in 2021.
