Rideau Transit Group (RTG) orders 38 tram-trains for Ontario

Rideau Transit Group (RTG) has ordered 38 Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles from Alstom for the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit Expansion Project in Ottawa, Ontario in a contract worth €200 million.

The expansion will extend the Confederation Line currently being built further east by more than 12km, and further west by another 15km. Construction of Stage 2 will begin in 2019 and, once complete in 2023, the total LRT system will have nearly 60km of rail and 41 stations, with more than 70% of residents in Ottawa living within five kilometres of the line.

The Citadis Spirit is a 100% low-floor vehicle that is easily accessible, and has an interior layout featuring a wide central aisle and interior circulation that provides a safer and more enjoyable passenger experience. In March 2017, the Citadis Spirit vehicle achieved and surpassed the commercial operating speed during dynamic tests on the Confederation Line alignment.

Alstom is also currently supplying 34 Citadis Spirit vehicles for Ottawa’s O-Train Confederation Line as per a 2013 subcontract agreement with RTG, and will maintain both the vehicles and the light rail system for a period of 30 years.

“We are excited that RTG has selected Alstom to supply the Citadis Spirit for the Stage 2 extension of Ottawa’s light rail system,” said Angelo Guercioni, Managing Director of Alstom Canada. “This second order for Ottawa builds upon our track record, where close to half of the 34 Citadis Spirit vehicles for the Confederation Line are in various stages of assembly and testing.”

This contract follows on from a firm order from Metrolinx to supply 61 Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

The 38 vehicles in the Stage 2 order will be assembled by Alstom at the Belfast Yard MSF where currently nine are in various stages of assembly and an additional seven vehicles are undergoing static and dynamic testing.