Express network metropolitan: the Fund spreads Bombardier Transportation

photo courtesy CDPQ Infra

Philippe Orfali

Thursday, 8 February 2018 17:00

UPDATE
Thursday, 8 February 2018 17:00

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Excluded from the draft express Network metropolitan (REM) and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the rail division of Bombardier will soon not have work for its workers in quebec.

• READ ALSO: The project EMN: more expensive than expected and to a station in less

“We still have a year working in La Pocatière. After the delivery of the trains blue of the Montreal metro, there’s nothing left, for the moment,” admitted bluntly to the spokesperson of the company, Eric Prud’homme, in interview to the Newspaper.

“It is a moment of disappointment, we analyse the situation”, he added.

The Caisse de dépôt has revealed the identity of the consortia that will build and operate the REM, Thursday, and this after months of delay.

The Fund admits that she has had to fend off several times the choice of the consortia, because of the costs proposed by the bidders were “not acceptable”.

It is quebec-based SNC-Lavalin group emerges big winner in the bidding process. It is included within the group of companies responsible for the construction of stations and installation of the rails, in addition to being part of the tandem that will provide the 200-car train on the network, with Alstom.

The firms Pomerleau, EBC, Dragados, Aecon and Aecom are also part of the companies selected for building the stations and rails.

Local content

All in all, “approximately” 65 % of the REM will be provided by quebec companies or subsidiaries of foreign companies installed in Quebec, according to the calculations of the Fund.

But as the construction of the cars only account for a fifth of the project, it is quite possible that Alstom to build cars elsewhere, which owns a plant in Ontario.

Several organizations and opposition parties had pressed, without success, for the Fund include a minimum québec content in the project of REM.

What is the future of Bombardier’s La Pocatière?

The options are limited to Bombardier Transportation, which has landed many lucrative deals in recent years in the United States. These projects, however, must be made on american soil to adhere to the policies Buy American, recalled Mr. Prud’homme.

The company has insured having made a bid to be very competitive to meet the needs of sustainable mobility in the Montreal region.

The efforts, however, have not borne fruit. This is the second contract of its kind that escapes Bombardier Transportation in less than a year in Montreal. The Agence métropolitaine de transport has granted to a chinese group in the construction of its new suburban trains.

Hard blow

On the side of the unionized employees, one tries to stay calm in the face of Thursday’s announcement. But the blow is hard.

“Major contracts like this, there will be not every day. The employees have a deep sense of disappointment. We would have been able to consolidate good jobs,” summary Mario Guignard, the workers ‘ representative of Bombardier in La Pocatière.

Couillard reassuring

Philippe Couillard, however, has attempted to calm the game.

“There will be other projects for The Goal, I’ll ensure it,” he said.

“I hope that Bombardier has the contract [metro extension] given the need for continuity with the cars in the system’azur. (…) It is already known that for the blue line extended the same contract otc is going to apply.”

“There are other projects yet. Like the new subway, the mayor of Montreal,” he continued.

Comments that contrast with those held there a few weeks ago by the prime minister, who was well-kept in direct support of the proposed pink line.