Siemens and AtkinsRéalis Sign 19km TramCité Québec Contract

Québec City, Canada – AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility signed a co-development contract to design and integrate rail systems for TramCité, a 19 km, 29-station tramway network in Québec City, with commissioning scheduled for 2033. The contract covers the systems component of the project and will be implemented through the Connexion Capitale partnership under a Progressive Design-Build model.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The co-development contract covers the rail systems component of TramCité, including railway systems, signalling, communications, electrification, system integration, testing, commissioning, and long-term maintenance.

AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility will coordinate the implementation of technologies required for network operation and oversee testing and commissioning to ensure safe, reliable and efficient service. The Progressive Design-Build model allows final technical solution, implementation schedule, costs and performance parameters to be defined collaboratively before actual construction begins.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

CDPQ Infra’s other major project, Montréal’s REM automated network, spans 67 km with 26 stations, while TramCité is 19 km with 29 stations; Arup describes TramCité as a European-style tramway designed to enhance public space and integrate with the urban environment. (Source: CDPQ Infra, 2025; Arup, 2025)

The 2025 railway signalling market is led by Europe and focused on modernization and digital upgrades; comparable signalling contracts include Alstom’s supply of Metropolis metro cars and CBTC signalling for Mumbai Metro Line 4 and Hitachi Rail’s contract for Taipei Keelung metropolitan MRT. (Source: Railmarket.com, 2025) No directly comparable Canadian tram systems contract value was publicly available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

The Progressive Design-Build contract structure for TramCité mirrors a broader rail industry shift toward software-based signalling and interoperability highlighted in the 2025 market outlook, but it also concentrates early design and integration risk within the Connexion Capitale partnership. (Source: Railmarket.com, 2025) For CDPQ Infra, this allows phased development while postponing final cost disclosure—a practice that may draw scrutiny as Québec City seeks predictable infrastructure budgets.

FAQ

Q: How long is the TramCité line and how many stations will it have?
A: The line will be 19 km long with 29 accessible stations and five interchanges with other transport modes. Commissioning is scheduled for 2033.

Q: What is the total value of the AtkinsRéalis–Siemens Mobility contract?
A: The total contract value has not been disclosed. Under the Progressive Design-Build model, final costs will be defined after technical solutions are developed and before construction begins.

Q: Who is responsible for overall delivery and technical oversight of TramCité?
A: CDPQ Infra is developing TramCité through the Connexion Capitale partnership, with Arup serving as owner’s engineer for technical and strategic support. AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility hold the systems and rail contract.