THE FIRST two refurbished MR-73 metro cars were unveiled in Montréal by STM Chairman Claude Dauphin and Québec Transport Minister Michel Després on November 18. They entered service on the Orange Line the following week.
Over the next three years STM will spend C$35·6m refurbishing 423 MR-73 cars, which are approaching 30 years old and have travelled an average of 2·3 millionkm. The work is being carried out by STM, and around 20 cars will be completed per month.
The interior has been changed to create more standing space, accommodating 16 extra passengers at the expense of six seats. Ventilation has been redesigned to be more efficient and less noisy, and the surfaces will be more resistant to graffiti.
Passengers had been invited to comment on three test interiors via the metro website or using reply cards available onboard.
At the unveiling Dauphin said ’this investment will allow us to extend the rolling stock’s service life by at least 10 years and handle the increase in ridership expected from the three stations opening in Laval’.
