Siemens Mobility Chargers for Montreal
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Exo (officially known as Réseau de Transport Métropolitain, or RTM; English: Metropolitan Transportation Network), Montreal’s regional/commuter rail and bus system, has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract for 10 Charger diesel-electric locomotives.
The contract, which also includes an option for spare parts supply, is Siemens Mobility’s second order for Charger locomotives in Canada and will replace the oldest locomotives in the exo fleet, 10 General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) F59PH locomotives built in 1990, “with a modern, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly locomotive,” Siemens said. “The Charger locomotives will also provide Exo with a quieter and more reliable fleet that will enhance the passenger experience.” The contract is worth C$132 million. The first unit is scheduled for delivery in 2025.
Exo received funding from the Government of Québec through the Programme d’aide gouvernementale au transport collectif des personnes (PAGTCP) program to finance the locomotives.
Siemens said the Cummins QSK95-equipped Charger, “with low fuel consumption, the ability to run on biodiesel and fulfilling the most stringent Tier 4 emissions standards, is the most sustainable passenger locomotive in the industry. It features 95% PM (particulate matter) reduction and 89% emissions reduction compared to existing Tier 0 locomotives. With more than 300 locomotives ordered since 2010 and 95 currently in revenue service, the Charger locomotive is the market leader in its segment.”
Compared to the F59PH it is replacing, the Charger can haul two more railcars, 10 vs. 8, “which will give exo more flexibility to adjust trainset length and thereby enhance the user experience,” the agency said.
“We are excited to partner with exo and look forward to working with them to modernize their fleet with the latest in sustainable and intelligent rail technology,” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, CEO of Siemens Mobility in Canada. “Our industry leading locomotives will offer exo and its passengers a sustainable travel option as well as a pleasant, safe and reliable travel experience. This important project further builds on our work to help Canadian cities upgrade their public transportation infrastructures to meet the growing demand for transportation, and do so in a modern, safe and sustainable way.”
In addition to the F59PH locomotives being replaced, exo operates 11 GMDD F59PHI units delivered in 2000 and 2001, and 20 dual-power Alstom (Bombardier) ALP45-DP locomotives delivered in 2011 and 2012 through a joint procurement with New Jersey Transit that also included MultiLevel passenger cars. The F59PH locomotives were purchased from Toronto’s GO Transit in 2011 and have been subject to several rebuilds over the years.
Siemens Mobility noted that has been supplying Canada’s transportation industry for more than 40 years, including light rail vehicles in Edmonton and Calgary, intercity trainsets for VIA Rail, electrification for the Kitchener-Waterloo light rail system, and signaling and train control for Ottawa’s Trillium line. With its recent acquisition of RailTerm, Siemens Mobility Canada added nearly 200 employees. The company’s Canadian footprint includes 24 offices with more than 2,500 employees, of which approximately 700 are based in Quebec Province.
