CANADA: Greater Montréal regional transport authority Exo has awarded Transdev the next contract to operate commuter rail services.
The contract is to run for 10 years from July 1 2026, including a one-year mobilisation period. This is to ensure a smooth transition from current operartors Alstom which has a contract running until June 30 2027. There are options for two extensions each of two years.
Transdev Canada will be responsible for train operations, fleet maintenance and the upkeep of yards and depots on the five-line network, which carried more than 7 million passengers in 2024.
Tenders for the next operating contract were called in December 2024, using a single-envelope weighted bidding system that included structured competitive dialogue designed to enable adjustments to secure the most advantageous proposals. Exo appointed external advisers to ensure a fair process, and the decision to award the contract was ratified by its board on March 12.
‘Transdev Canada’s recognised expertise will allow us to continue our efforts in maintaining the reliability, quality and efficiency of our services, while ensuring long-term savings aligned with our 2026-28 optimisation plan’, said Marc Rousseau, Executive Director of Exo.
CEO of Transdev Canada Arthur Nicolet said ‘through this mandate, we intend to contribute responsibly to the public transit ecosystem, drawing on our expertise as well as the know-how of the teams working on the ground every day’.
