Alstom Citadis Spirit
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport, Light rail vehicles manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Citadis Dualis |
| Founder | Alstom |
Area served | Ottawa, Greater Toronto Area, Quebec City (Canada) |
| Products | Light rail vehicles (Citadis Spirit) |
| Owner | Alstom |
| Parent | Alstom |
| Website | www |
The Alstom Citadis Spirit represents a low-floor, articulated light rail vehicle created by Alstom specifically for Ottawa's O-Train. As a member of the Citadis series, it draws on the design of the Citadis Dualis and incorporates pivoting bogies.[1]
Engineered to operate efficiently in both urban centers and suburban areas, the Citadis Spirit utilizes suspended articulations typical of North American light rail vehicles. It accommodates boarding at street level and can reach speeds up to .[2]
The initial procurement was made by the City of Ottawa for its Confederation Line, which commenced service in September 2019. Subsequently, Metrolinx, Ontario’s transit authority, placed a second order intended for upcoming light rail projects within the Greater Toronto Area.
Options
The Citadis Spirit consists of four distinct module types, though not every vehicle incorporates all of them:
| Module description |
Module letter |
Number of bogies |
Doors per side |
Pantograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cab | C | 1 | 2 | No |
| Short centre | S | 1 | 0 | Yes |
| Long centre | L | 2 | 1 | Yes |
| Intermediate | I | 1 | 2 | No |
Marketing materials depict four different configurations,[3] while the manufacturer’s brochure presents three.[2] Combined information is as follows:
| Length | Modules used | Maximum passenger capacity | Doors per side | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 m (98 ft) | C+S+C | 190 | 4 | |
| 37 m (121 ft) | C+L+C | 265 | 5 | |
| 48.5 m (159 ft) | C+I+L+C | 340 | 7 | Deployed in Ottawa with a capacity set at 300 passengers. |
| 59 m (194 ft) | C+I+L+I+C | 370 | 9 |
Clients may opt for shorter vehicles and later extend them by adding modules; however, to include a pantograph, the short-centre (S) module must be replaced with a long-centre (L) module since only centre modules are equipped with pantographs.[3]
Additional power supply options besides pantograph collection include:[2]
- Alstom APS: A ground-level power system providing performance comparable to pantographs.
- Batteries: Onboard energy storage for medium to extended off-wire operations.
- Super-capacitors: Energy storage suited for short off-wire distances, recharged at stations.
Manufacturing
Key components are manufactured in Hornell, New York, with bogies produced in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, and final assembly taking place in Ottawa, Ontario. An additional assembly facility is located in Brampton, Ontario.
City of Ottawa
For Ottawa’s Confederation Line, which launched on September 14, 2019, Alstom delivered a fleet of 34 Citadis Spirit vehicles. The company also secured a 30-year maintenance agreement with Rideau Transit Group (RTG), the consortium responsible for design, construction, financing, and upkeep. Manufacturing occurred across Hornell, New York and Sorel-Tracy, Quebec facilities, with final assembly performed in Ottawa.[4][5][6][7] The fleet comprises approximately 27% Canadian content.[3]
Each unit consists of four modules: two cab modules (each with two doors per side), one centre module (with one door per side), and one intermediate module (featuring two doors per side), resulting in a total length of .[8] Passenger capacity is configured to accommodate up to 300 individuals.[3]
In June 2017, Alstom secured the contract for Phase 2 expansion of the Confederation Line, ordering an additional 38 Citadis Spirit vehicles to bring the total fleet size to 72.[9]
Vehicle challenges
By October 2019, the Confederation Line's vehicles in Ottawa encountered issues with automated doors malfunctioning when passengers forced them open or kept them ajar. These faults led to service interruptions lasting up to 90 minutes, largely due to inadequate protocols for isolating malfunctioning doors. Additionally, integration complications with Thales' SelTrac train control system necessitated reboots of onboard computers, resulting in delays of 20 to 30 minutes.
Although reliability saw improvement by late 2019, electrical faults caused by dirty roof contacts triggered delays during New Year's Eve operations. In January 2020, problems with trains and track switches continued, alongside insufficient interior heating, prompting OC Transpo to explore installing additional heaters suitable for Ottawa’s harsh winter conditions. A manufacturing flaw in the vehicle inductors was identified as the cause of electrical failures during adverse weather. On January 30, 2020, the line experienced a low point with five trains sidelined due to persistent mechanical and electrical malfunctions, operating only eight to nine trains during peak hours instead of the planned 13.
During maintenance on July 2, 2020, cracks were discovered on four wheels spanning three vehicles. Consequently, half of the fleet underwent daily wheel inspections. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) initiated an independent probe on July 10. By September, Alstom traced the issue to a misaligned screw that induced stress cracks and pledged to replace all affected wheels by early 2021. As of August 2021, wheel replacements had been completed on 32 vehicles.
On August 8, 2021, a train that was out of service partially derailed after one wheel came off the tracks while crossing a switch. This incident led to the withdrawal of all vehicles pending investigation. The TSB dispatched investigators but did not commence a formal inquiry. Preliminary assessments suggested a fault in the axle–bearing assembly as a probable cause.
On July 23, 2022, trains that had surpassed 175,000 km were removed from operation following detection of a failure in a wheel hub assembly. Ottawa Transit Riders voiced concerns over repeated significant problems occurring less than three years after the system's launch.
On July 17, 2023, all train operations were halted due to another bearing defect uncovered during routine inspections.
Metrolinx
Metrolinx, the provincial transit authority of Ontario, placed an order for 61 Citadis Spirit vehicles intended for new light rail lines within the Greater Toronto Area. Of these, seventeen will be allocated to Line 6 Finch West in Toronto, while forty-four are designated for the Hurontario LRT serving Peel Region. To meet this demand, Alstom established a manufacturing plant in Brampton, Ontario, generating between 100 and 120 full-time positions. The first Citadis unit produced at this facility was delivered to the Finch West LRT maintenance yard in July 2021.
Each vehicle is designed to seat 120 passengers and accommodate an additional 216 standing riders, with designated areas for wheelchairs, strollers, and bicycles during off-peak hours. Metrolinx intends to operate these trains at approximately , whereas Alstom specifies a maximum speed capability of .
This Citadis Spirit procurement acts as a contingency plan against potential delays from Bombardier in supplying Flexity Freedom vehicles for Line 5 Eglinton. Metrolinx faces daily penalties amounting to $500,000 should Bombardier miss delivery deadlines. If such delays occur, the forty-four vehicles assigned to Hurontario LRT could be redeployed to support Line 5 Eglinton services.
Quebec City
In April 2022, Quebec City launched a procurement process to select a supplier for its light-rail transit vehicles. By February 2023, the contract was awarded to Alstom Transport Canada Inc. to provide and service the fleet over a 30-year period. The agreement includes the delivery of 34 Citadis Spirit LRVs, with an option to add five additional units to meet future demand, totaling a value of $1.34 billion—comprising $569 million for manufacturing the vehicles and $768 million allocated for ongoing maintenance.
The design work will take place in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, while assembly will occur at Alstom’s La Pocatière facility. The contract requires that at least 25% of the content be sourced locally, although numerous components are expected to be manufactured in Mexico. Additionally, Alstom will be responsible for training RTC personnel in vehicle operation.
External links
- Released by Alstom on May 12, 2017, featuring the vehicle designed for both mixed traffic and dedicated lanes.
- Issued by OCTranspo on April 30, 2014, outlining the technical specifications.
- ↑ "Alstom's Citadis Dualis tram-trains begin commercial service" (Press release). Alstom. December 14, 2019.
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