Montréal metro CBTC contract awarded

Thales Ground Transportation Systems has secured a C$217 million contract to provide and maintain a communications-based train control (CBTC) system for Montréal's Blue Line metro.

The contract encompasses a 6 km extension with five new stations, stretching from Saint-Michel to Anjou. Construction for this extension has commenced, and bids for the tunneling works contract are currently under evaluation.

On February 13, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) announced the CBTC contract, highlighting the need to replace the Blue Line’s outdated control system, which cannot support the extension. Upgrading to the new system will enhance reliability, increase train frequency, and improve passenger comfort.

Additionally, the control systems on the other three metro lines will also need to be upgraded in the future.

STM Chair Éric Alan Caldwell emphasized the importance of modernization: "By 2030, 93% of STM’s infrastructure will be over 40 years old. We must seize every opportunity to update our network.