Montreal’s New CRRC Bilevels Entering Service
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Exo’s first six CRRC bilevels will enter service this month in the Montreal metropolitan area. (exo Photograph)
Exo on June 25 will begin launching the first six of 44 new CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Company) bilevels on Line 12 - Saint-Jerome in the Montreal metropolitan area. All the cars are expected to enter service by summer 2025.
The regional/commuter rail and bus system—officially known as Réseau de Transport Métropolitain/RTM or Metropolitan Transportation Network (English) —placed a 24-car order with CRRC in 2017 and exercised an option for an additional 20 in 2019. Included are eight cab cars and 36 trailer cars. The total order is valued at C$206 million; funding was provided by the government of Québec through the Programme d’aide gouvernementale au transport collectif des personnes (PAGTCP).
The 2050-series bilevels have been undergoing final testing on the exo network since winter (scroll down for video; see map above). While delivery began in 2022, it had been scheduled to start in June 2019; the delay was “due mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as technical adjustments to the cars and increased local content,” according to exo.
Each car offers:
- Up to 147 seats.
- Electrical and USB outlets.
- Two wide doors to facilitate boarding and alighting.
- Accessible restrooms with a changing table.
- High-contrast indoor and outdoor display screens.
- LED interior lighting.
- Heating and air conditioning.
- Spaces for motorized mobility aids (e.g., three-wheeled scooters) and bicycles.
The bilevels also include “general universal accessibility elements that meet the standards of the American Disability Act (ADA),” exo reported.
Manufactured by CRRC, the cars feature design and signage from Graphie (La Pocatière, QC); radio, communication and display system from ISC Applied Systems (Pointe-Claire, QC); windows from Prelco (Rivière-du-Loup, QC); floors and operator seats from Baultar Solutions (Val-Joli, QC); passenger seats from Khrome (Drummondville, QC); bellows between cars from ProFlex (Granby, QC); event recorders from Bach-Simpson (London, ON); control system from Quester Tangent (Sidney, BC); and door system and operator, battery charger, and low voltage power supply from Technologies Lanka Inc. (La Pocatière, QC).
The exo staff is “thrilled with their exceptional quality and design, which perfectly meet our needs and those of our customers,” exo General Manager Sylvain Yelle said of the bilevels. “We look forward to users finally using our new railcars,” which will comprise 17.6% of the exo regional/commuter rail fleet. Exo’s current 206-car fleet consists of 160 3000-series cars, 22 2000-series cars and 24 700-series cars; none of the older cars will be retired or removed from service when the new 2050-series cars are added. Exo reported that the cars’ launch will not result in schedule changes.
“It should be noted that the design to North American standards and the implementation of these new railcars were carried out in accordance with the allocated budget and with the needs of our users in mind,” said Josée Bérubé, Chair of the exo Board of Directors. “Despite the pandemic requiring patience, the outcome of this collaboration is remarkable, providing a modern commuter train that progressively becomes more accessible to all our customers.”
In related news, exo on Jan. 31, 2022, awarded Siemens Mobility a contract for 10 Charger diesel-electric locomotives. Additionally, the Railway Association of Canada last fall awarded exo a 2023 Environment Award for its Sound Energy Management Program.
