Montreal's transit-rail network welcomes first new Azur car

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) yesterday received its first Azur metro car, which was delivered by the Bombardier Transportation and Alstom consortium that's building the agency's new fleet of rail cars.

"The arrival of the Azur prototype train is an awaited historical moment, a major milestone that paves the way for the delivery of a second, fully outfitted train that will begin serving our riders by late 2014 if testing goes according to plan," said STM Chairman Philippe Schnobb in a prepared statement.

The Azur cars will replace MR-63 metro cars that have been in operation since 1966. The new fleet "will help adequately respond to the significant increase in subway ridership and meet the expectations of Montrealers and all Québec citizens who will take the metro,” said Minister of Transport and Minister Responsible for Montreal Robert Poeti.

Once the train has been fully assembled, the consortium and STM teams will perform 100 qualification tests for up to eight months. The tests will be carried out first at the Youville shops and then on a track linking the maintenance shop to the main network. The cars then will be gradually commissioned throughout the network at night.