CDPQ Infra has issued two pre-qualification requests for its planned 67-kilometre driverless metro system in Montreal.
CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (la Caisse), has invited companies to submit proposals for the ‘Engineering, Procurement and Construction for the Infrastructures’ and for the ‘Provision of the Rolling Stock, Systems and Operation and Maintenance Services’.
Known as Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM), the network, which would become the third-longest automated light rail rapid transit system on the planet, will link downtown Montréal, the South Shore, the West Island (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), the North Shore (Deux-Montagnes) and Montreal’s airport.
CDPQ Infra has specified a fleet of more than 200 cars, indicating that it plans to operate four-car units at peak times and two-car trains off-peak.
The network will use a 1.5 kV DC overhead line electrification system and, being fully automated, will have platform screen doors. Interested parties have until August 26 to register their interest.
Revealing its plans in April, CDPQ Infra said it hoped to begin construction of REM next year and open it to passengers by late 2020.
