Thales awarded CBTC Signalling Contract to modernise Montreal Metro

Montreal, Canada (Metro Rail Today): Thales and the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) have finalized a new contract for the train control system project on the blue Line of the Montreal Metro. Under this agreement, Thales will be responsible for designing, manufacturing, installing, and testing the SelTrac Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system. Additionally, Thales will provide maintenance services for a period of five years. The SelTrac™ technology will replace the existing system on the blue Line and extend across the new 6 km section.

Montreal's metro network, spanning 71 km, is the second busiest rapid transit network in Canada and the fourth busiest in North America. The blue Line, designated as number 5, is one of the four lines comprising the metro network in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Currently undergoing an extension to the east from Saint-Michel to Anjou station, the blue Line will add 6 km of rail and 5 new stations. Upon completion, the blue Line will encompass 17 stations over a total distance of 19 km, offering STM customers a more modern, efficient, and reliable service.

Thales' SelTrac will be the first CBTC system deployed across the Montreal Métro network. The contract also includes a 5-year maintenance service, which will be conducted by Thales. CBTC is a leading technology for metro systems globally, widely deployed by metro operators worldwide, and will contribute to the modernization of the Montreal metro with state-of-the-art technology.

Having provided an interlocking system across the STM network for the past six years, Thales is well-versed in STM's network, operations, and technology. Leveraging this expertise and partnership, Thales will deliver the blue Line project. The SelTrac™ solution installed in Montreal is operational across major metro networks worldwide, including New York, Singapore, London, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Dubai, and Doha.

"Thales has a proud history in Montreal, successfully collaborating with STM for the past 6 years. Through our partnership with STM and our locally developed SelTrac CBTC technology, we aim to significantly modernize the network and enhance the metro experience for passengers in Montreal," said Alcino De Sousa, Vice President and Managing Director Urban Rail Signalling at Thales.

Thales' office in Toronto, Canada, boasts over 1,000 employees, including more than 800 engineers, and features 30,000 ft2 of simulation lab space for software testing. This site serves as the engineering competence center for the made-in-Canada SelTrac™ signalling solution and will provide expertise for this project.