CDPQ Infra Inc., which owns and operates public infrastructure projects in Canada, has chosen a team to engineer and build a C$6.3 billion ($4.97 billion) regional automated light-rail line in Montréal.

When complete, the Reseau Express Metropolitain (REM) will be the fourth-largest such system in the world. It also will rank as the largest public transportation network in greater Montréal in 50 years.

The REM is intended to be an integrated 67-km public transit network linking downtown Montréal, the South Shore, the West Island (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), the North Shore (Laval and Deux-Montagnes) and the airport through an entirely automated and electric light rail transit system.

Initial fleet will include 240 cars with four-car trains offering 600-passenger capacity during rush hour. Two-car trains will be scheduled at off-peak times.

Construction is slated to start in April 2018. Initial testing could be conducted by the end of 2020 and the transit lines could go into service in the summer of 2021.

Artist's concept of a REM station. Source: CDPQ Infra.The winning consortia for infrastructure engineering, procurement and construction includes SNC Lavalin Grands Projets Inc., Dragados Canada Inc., Groupe Aecon Québec Ltée, Pomerleau Inc. and EBC Inc.

Rolling stock and systems, and operation and maintenance will be supplied by Alstom Transport Canada Inc. and SNC-Lavalin O&M Inc.

CDPQ Infra is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and is responsible for developing and operating infrastructure projects, including the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).