Bombardier Transportation said Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 it has signed a contract to provide train operations for TransLink's West Coast Express regional rail system in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia.
The contract is valued at roughly C$17 million (US$15 million), and includes train operations for five years. Options for three additional five-year periods can also be exercised, Bombardier said.
The Bombardier team will mobilize for service beginning early next year and assume train operations responsibility in May 2014. Bombardier will provide train operations for the West Coast Express Bombardier BiLevel rail fleet of 44 vehicles.
"We're extremely pleased to expand our long standing relationship with Bombardier as a vehicle and technology provider, to now include rail operations," said British Columbia Rapid Transit Co. Ltd. President and General Manager Fred Cummings. "We have developed a successful partnership over the years, and we look forward to Bombardier continuing to provide the safe, reliable, and courteous service our West Coast Express customers have grown to expect."
Said Bombardier Transportation North America President Raymond Bachant, "West Coast Express has built an enviable reputation for reliability and exceptional customer service since its first trip in 1995. Bombardier appreciates the importance of maintaining and building on the West Coast Express record of good customer service."
West Coast Express provides weekday service only linking eight stations between Mission City, British Columbia, and downtown Vancouver. Vancouver is the third largest census metropolitan area (CMA).
Bombardier provides operations and maintenance services to transit systems across North America, including AMT (Agence Metropolitaine de Transport) in Montreal, GO Transit in Toronto, MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter), MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) New Jersey Transit, NCTD (North County Transit District) in California, OC Transpo in Ottawa, SFRTA (South Florida Regional Transit Authority), SCRRA (Southern California Regional Rail Authority), and, beginning in the spring of 2014, Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit (SunRail). Bombardier also supports transit systems with overhaul and refurbishment programs and material and technology solutions.