Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive responds to international public notice by
Société de transport de Montréal
ZELC PROPOSAL WOULD SAVE SOME $1.5 BILLION AND CREATE UP TO 1,000 NEW JOBS IN MONTREAL
MONTREAL, March 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Ltd. (ZELC) today provided the Société de transport de Montréal with full documentation in response to the international public notice relative to the replacement of Montreal's metro cars, notice issued by the STM on January 23, 2010. In its presentation, ZELC reiterates its offer to provide the STM with steel-wheel metro cars. Using this proven technology would result in savings of some $1.5 billion for Montreal and Quebec taxpayers.
Among the key elements in its proposal, ZELC formally agrees to respect the requirement for 60% Canadian content by assembling the metro cars at the former Dominion Bridge plant located in the Montreal borough of Lachine. ZELC anticipates hiring 750 to 1,000 workers to build the 1,053 metro cars, with delivery beginning within 18 months following contract ratification.
ZELC's proposed technology is experiencing strong growth and is now the most widely used technology worldwide, since it is more environmentally friendly, more energy efficient and less costly to build and maintain. "In addition, the new steel-wheel cars would generate additional savings for the STM and the Ville de Montréal, in the event that an aboveground metro extension is built", said Glen Fisher, ZELC's representative in Canada.
"According to the opinions of experts, including the designers of Montreal's original metro, the tracks used in the Montreal metro could be easily adapted to steel-wheel cars without any service interruptions and that, before the first cars are delivered", added Glen Fisher. "For all these reasons, we believe the STM should review its requirements as part of a genuine international call for tenders", he concluded.
Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Company Ltd. also reminds the STM that it has a solid financial foundation. For more than 50 years, it has been a leader in the development and manufacture of electric locomotives and metro cars. In the past eight years, ZELC has secured several contracts to supply electric metro cars to customers in Asia and Europe. With nearly 8,000 employees, ZELC develops, manufactures, maintains and markets mainline electric locomotives, electric multiple units, freight rail equipment as well as parts and components. Annual production amounts to some 1,000 metro cars and 600 electric locomotives. For more information about the Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Ltd. (ZELC), visit www.zhuzhoulocomotive.com.
For further information: Glen T. Fisher, President, CPCS Technologies Canada inc., (514) 634-3116; Nadia Paquet, (514) 843-2351
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