Bombardier Awarded $99 Million US Contract For Advanced Rapid Transit Cars In Vancouver

Montréal, Canada – Bombardier Transportation announced 2006-11-23 that it has been awarded a contract by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) to supply 34 Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) MKII vehicles for the region’s SkyTrain rail transportation system. The contract, valued at approximately $99 million US (77 million euros), includes options for an additional 38 vehicles. Should all options be exercised, the entire contract would total 72 cars and be valued at approximately $191 million US (148 million euros).

The new vehicles will provide a needed fleet expansion on the system, where ridership continues to enjoy significant growth beyond initial projections. SkyTrain currently operates 60 ART MKII vehicles and 150 ART MK I vehicles on the system.

The Expo Line, the first phase of the SkyTrain rapid transit system, opened in 1986 for the Expo 86 World’s Fair in Vancouver. Construction of the latest phase, the SkyTrain Millenium Line, expanded the system in 2001. Together, the two lines make up the longest driverless light rapid transit system in the world, covering 49.5 km and 33 stations.

Manufacturing and final assembly of the vehicles will take place at Bombardier Transportation production facilities in Sahagun, Mexico and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Delivery of the cars is scheduled for the first half of 2009.

“Bombardier is proud to be working with TransLink and the Greater Vancouver Region District once again on a SkyTrain-related project,” said William Spurr, President, Bombardier Transportation, North America. “We’re always pleased when a satisfied customer orders additional products from us.”

The ART MKII cars are also in use on systems at JFK International Airport in New York City and on the Kelana Jaya Line in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ART MKII cars will also be part of rapid transit projects now under construction in Yongin, South Korea and Beijing, China.

In North America, Bombardier Transportation is the leader in commuter rail, intercity, subway cars, automated rapid transit and automated guideway transit systems. It also maintains two of the largest multi-level commuter rail car fleets in Canada and the United States.

The Bombardier Transportation Group has its global headquarters in Berlin, Germany with a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of approximately 97,000 vehicles worldwide. The Group offers the broadest product portfolio and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.