Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has put its first modern Azur metro trains into service on Montréal Orange line.
On February 7, the first Azur vehicle began operating a two-month trial service following several months of testing on the Orange and Blue lines.
A second train will continue testing without passengers on the Green, Yellow and Blue lines.
Once testing is complete, delivery of the remaining 51 nine-car trains will continue, with the final vehicle due to arrive in 2018.
The Azur fleet, unlike the current rolling stock, feature open gangways.
Philippe Schnobb, chairman of the STM board of directors, said: “Deploying an Azur train in passenger service is not only a highly-anticipated milestone, but also an historical moment for Montréal and the STM, as it also coincides with the métro’s 50th anniversary.
“It also represents a momentous day for customers, as they will see and feel a marked improvement in their day-to-day experience with more comfortable and fluid transit rides.
“This step underscores the sustained efforts by all our partners, employees and project bureau staff during these last years.”
The Azur fleet is being built by a Bombardier-Alstom consortium. The consortium has said it is confident it will meet the 2018 deadline for delivering all 468 metro cars.
Hopefully air conditioned. Montreal has brutally hot & humid summers.